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Mare Simonar-Dykes: Ms. Wheelchair
Arkansas
| Hello! My name is Mare Simonar-Dykes, Ms. Wheelchair
Arkansas 2004-2005. I’m a wife of almost 15 years, and mother of two energetic
boys, aged 10 and 2 1/2. As the youngest of 6 kids, I was born with an RH
factor that was determined to require a blood transfusion; but something
went amiss, and I was left paralyzed. My life was mostly mainstreamed simply
through trying to keep up with my siblings and cousins on a Wisconsin dairy
farm. I moved to Arkansas in 1986, and absolutely love the “Natural State”.
I am a 4-H mom, a home-based business owner dealing in
Native American wares, and chairman of the Indian Inter-Tribal Association
of Arkansas, as well as community service volunteer to include supporting
Sunrise Riders Therapeutic Riding Center, in Greenbrier, Arkansas, and as a
certified “storm spotter” for the National Weather service as an amateur
radio (HAM) operator. |
Mare Simonar-Dykes
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I entered the Ms. Wheelchair Arkansas pageant to simply do something for
me. We, as a family, have always been involved in community service and
I’ve always done for everyone else. So, although I figured I would simply
be doing something fun, and adventurous, I truly never expected to become
the new titleholder. My motto, or slogan, became “Advocacy for Living”,
because in spite of our disabilities in this world, we still LIVE, and I
do it gladly… with all the ups and with the downs this world has to offer.
Although I cannot admit to liking public speaking in
general, I LOVE meeting and sharing great conversation with all the
amazing and wonderful people that I have been blessed to encounter during
my reign as Ms Wheelchair Arkansas. More importantly, the opportunity to
interact with young people, especially the young ladies longing to one day
be Ms. Wheelchair themselves.
My major platform, along with promoting Ms. Wheelchair
Arkansas/America and “living” one's life to the fullest, is to bring
about awareness and change for home accessibility issues for those
struggling with a disability. There is a great need for assistance in
modifying homes to suit individual disability needs, and not all persons
with disabilities meet the special requirements for financial aid to make
their homes accessible, nor can they foot the bill alone.
My future goals are to renew my home based business (on
hold for my title), and to design, make and market my own jewelry designs.
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