Wants to promote equality for all

By SUSAN BERG

Managing editor

She was inspired when former Marion resident Amanda Steiner competed for and was selected in 2008 as Ms. Wheelchair Kansas.

Seeing what Amanda could did was enough for former Marion resident Teresa (Hett) Higgins to do something she had never considered.

“I have decided to run for Ms. Wheelchair North Carolina,” Higgins said.

Teresa and husband Bill moved to North Carolina 11 years ago, and currently live in Burlington, N.C.

“Amanda did a splendid job representing the state of Kansas, people with disabilities, and most importantly, herself,” Higgins said.

The 1972 Marion High School graduate has relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and has suffered from the disease since 1990. The disease has advanced into secondary progressive, confining Higgins to a wheelchair the past 10 years.

“After receiving my diagnosis, my husband and I agreed that knowledge and education were our best weapons,” Higgins said.

Since then she has educated herself and is determined to not let MS win.

About the pageant

A division of Ms. Wheelchair America, Ms. Wheelchair North Carolina is the same program as the competition in Kansas. It is a disability advocacy program, which seeks to select the most articulate and accomplished spokeswoman to represent people with disabilities in the state.

The annual competition is Saturday in Asheville, N.C. Those chosen from state competitions then compete at a national competition in the summer.

Higgins’ mother, Gerri Williams, of Marion, and her sister, Shelley Stafford, will attend the pageant with Bill, and their sons, Gabriel and Nicholas.

Gabriel lives in Winston Salem. His son, Daniel Hinton, lives in Marion. Nicholas and wife Betsy live in Burlington. They have a son, Wyatt.

Higgins also appreciates the friendship of her caregiver, Virginia Dixon.

There have been many ups and downs for Higgins and her family since the diagnosis but leave it to the upbeat wife, mother, and grandmother to try to make the best of her situation.