North Carolina Teenager Approaching Major Speech for The ALS Association in Washington, D.C. with Grace and Confidence as Miss National Sweetheart 2006

CALABASAS HILLS, Calif. (May 8, 2006) -- At 19 years old, Amanda Watson of Raleigh, N.C., Miss National Sweetheart 2006, is not all that nervous about giving an important speech at The ALS Association’s ninth annual National ALS Advocacy Day and Public Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., May 15-17.

That’s because during her reign, Watson has chalked up a lot of experience giving speeches on the subject. Walk to D’Feet® ALS events sponsored by the ALSA Jim “Catfish” Hunter Chapter, which she has walked in over the years with her family, and churches throughout the state – where there are sometimes in excess of 1,000 people in the audience – are among the settings where she has spoken about support for the cause. 

Watson chose the platform of raising awareness about the disease when she competed for the title last July because both her grandfather and great-grandfather passed away from ALS, commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. She believes she is making a difference.

“I’m trying to bring an awareness about ALS because it blows my mind how many people do not know what the disease is, how it affects the body or even what the letters ALS stand for,” Watson said. “First I give a description of what ALS is, what it stands for and how it became famous through Lou Gehrig. Finally, I explain how we can all make a difference and mention the things that are going on in our community where we raise money.”

“Our chapter is extremely grateful for all that Amanda is doing to help bring more awareness to ALS and our chapter,” said ALSA Jim “Catfish” Hunter Chapter Executive Director Megan Gardner. “She is an outstanding advocate for the disease, and we are so proud of her efforts to use ALS as her platform during her reign as Miss National Sweetheart.”

A nursing major at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Watson admits to being a little excited about speaking about ALS in the nation’s capitol and singing “The Prayer” with Taylor John, the son of former Major League Baseball pitcher Tommy John, at ALSA’s National ALS Advocacy Day and Public Policy Conference candlelight vigil on May 15. She also will be standing in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial and next to Kate Linder from “The Young and the Restless,” and former Minnesota Twins baseball player Kent Hrbek, who also will be speaking at the event.

“This will definitely be a new experience for me, and I believe I am ready for the challenge,” Watson said. “I am excited more than I am nervous.”

Watson will be thinking about her late grandfather when she gives her remarks. 

“It gives me a great sense of pride, not in myself, but more in the fact that even though I wasn’t able to know my grandfather, who passed away one year before I was born, that he would have been extremely proud of me and my goal to put an end to this terrible disease,” said Watson, born and raised in Raleigh, N.C.

Watson also is a talented singer – the proceeds from her CD featuring contemporary Christian songs she recorded have benefited the chapter. She describes herself as having a sincere heart, being very outgoing and very motivated, and a person who likes to listen to others.

Watson’s message resonated at the pageant held in Nashville, Tenn. “The judges asked me a lot of questions regarding my involvement with The ALS Association, and I was really able to pour my heart out and let them know what my goals were for my reign, if I was able to win, which I was lucky enough to do. It was a great avenue for me to get to know the judges and for them to get to know me.”

She will not forget about ALS when she turns in her tiara. Her long-term commitment to fighting ALS includes making it her cause when she competes in the precursor for the Miss North Carolina pageant, and then, hopefully, when she vies for the Miss America title.

Watson also is involved in her church and with activities such as The Toy Chest, which provides needy families with toys for Christmas. Her favorite quote is “Use what talents you possess; the woods would grow silent if no birds sang except those that sang best” by Henry Van Dyke. Her favorite song is “One Moment in Time” by Whitney Houston.

The ALS Association is the nation’s only non-profit voluntary health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS.