Warsawan To Ride Vera Bradley Float In Tournament Of Roses Parade
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Heidi Floyd was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago, but Thursday she will join with three other survivors who share similar experiences to raise awareness about the disease.
Floyd, 42, Warsaw, will ride on Vera Bradley's "Hope Grows" float in Thursday's televised 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif.
The float is designed by Festival Artists Worldwide and depicts a garden of hope titled "Hope Grows", according to verabradley.com The float represents growing hope for a future free from breast cancer.
In addition to Floyd, others who will ride the float include breast cancer survivor Cynthia Nixon, well-known for her role in "Sex and the City," who is a two-time Emmy award winner and Tony Award winner; and two female breast cancer survivors from Pasadena.
Floyd said Vera Bradley asked her to ride on the float. She had the opportunity through Facebook.com to contact the two women from Pasadena to be on the float.
"Hope Grows" is number 17 in the line up of 89 participants to appear in the parade.
Vera Bradley is the first float in the history of the parade to introduce a fashion collection. The Vera Bradley Spring 2009 collection will be introduced through a display of colors on the float.
Floyd arrived in Pasadena Sunday night and will return to Warsaw Friday.
Despite her cancer battle and the joys of raising four children, Floyd has served as an ambassador for Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer, Fort Wayne, for three years.
The foundation was founded in 1998 by two women who lost a friend to cancer. The foundation helps fund breast cancer research and support.
Floyd travels around the U.S. and speaks about her cancer experiences with others and the Vera Bradley Foundation.
Floyd was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 when she was two months pregnant with her fourth child, Noah.
Noah was born in 2005, a month earlier than planned by C-section, so Floyd could begin cancer radiation.
She and her husband Stuart and their children moved to Warsaw two years ago from Fort Wayne for her husband to become pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Warsaw.
The couple's other children include Alexandra, 14; Catherine, 7; and Isabella, 6.
"I have three daughters and I want to make sure they do not have breast cancer. I'm blessed to work for Vera Bradley and to be a part of this opportunity and raise funds for breast cancer research," Floyd said during a phone interview from Pasadena Monday afternoon.
She said Thursday will be her first time for being on a float, and said she is excited to meet other breast cancer survivors and share her story.
Stuart said he and their children look forward to watching Heidi on television riding the float.
"We're happy for the work she does for Vera Bradley and the funds that have been raised for chemotherapy, radiation and cancer treatment," Stuart said.
Stuart joked his wife plans to display a secret signal on television to let he and his children know that she loves them.
