Storm Johnson lost her brother to cystic fibrosis when he was just 18, now she’s fighting back against an illness that has brought her own family so much heartache.
A commercial pilot from Durbanville, Storm was recently chosen as a finalist in the Mrs South Africa pageant held at Emperors Palace in June. The annual event raises money for the Cancer Association of South Africa.
The top 25 finalists will now embark on a journey of fund-raising, networking and self-development until the final round of judging, to name the Tammy Taylor Mrs South Africa 2019 on Friday November 9. The newly crowned Tammy Taylor Mrs South Africa 2019 will represent South Africa internationally at Mrs World.“I started working closely with the cystic fibrosis ward at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital and reaching out to families going through similar situations in need and helping them as much a possible,”she says.
Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary and life-threatening disorder that damages the lungs and digestive system.
Storms says she entered the pageant to educate people about the illness.
She stresses that Mrs South Africa is more than just a pageant.
“It is a women-empowerment programme that helps married, sophisticated women passionate about South Africa and creating a change be heard on a large platform.
“I have been raising money for families with terminally ill children for the past two years and have accumulated a substantial amount.
“We have been able to give children a better quality of life through these efforts.”