www.roanoke.com

The reigning Miss Roanoke Valley is Lindsay Morris, a student at James Madison University. Last fall, she won the Miss Roanoke Valley crown in the pageant at Cave Spring High School. Next week, she competes in the Miss Virginia pageant at the Roanoke Civic Center.

New this year: Internet voting. The pageant field is typically whittled down to 10 finalists. This year, the Miss Virginia pageant will add an eleventh finalist, based on Internet voting. It costs 99 cents per vote.

Anyway, here's a message that Miss Roanoke Valley in which she encourages her fans to help her out:

Hi! I’m Lindsay Morris, Miss Roanoke Valley 2009. In just a few days, I’ll be representing the Roanoke Valley at the Miss Virginia State Pageant, held at the Roanoke Performing Arts Center on Saturday, June 27th .

You can help me to win! One way is by helping me raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network. It's easy: Simply go to the website http://missamerica4kids.org/ and either make an on-line donation or print a paper form to mail a check. The money you donate to CMN is tax deductible and most of it stays right here in the Roanoke Valley. It goes to the Children’s Hospital at Carilion Roanoke Memorial. I toured this facility even before I was crowned Miss Roanoke Valley and I saw first-hand the wonderful work they do for children and their families.

While you’re on-line, you can also vote for me to become the "Eleventh Finalist" at the Miss Virginia pageant. Visit the website http://www.formspring.com/forms/?611002-nEC7dFGEJc and cast your vote for me. There is a charge of 99 cents per vote and the money goes to fund scholarships for the Miss Virginia program. The Miss America Organization, of which Miss Virginia is an affiliate, is the largest scholarship granting organization for women in the world.

Then you can cheer me on to the crown by watching the Miss Virginia Pageant, which will be broadcast live on WSET Channel 13 at 9:00 PM on Saturday, June 27th.

Thank you for supporting me!

All the best,
Lindsay

Lindsay Morris
Miss Roanoke Valley 2009

For links to previous pageant coverage, see below:

OTHER PAGEANT COVERAGE:
* June 17: Miss Roanoke Valley competes for Miss Virginia
* June 16: Photos of Miss Roanoke Valley at weekend events
* May 19: Pageant princesses at Local Colors
* May 5: Pageant princesses mark Chic-fil-A anniversary
* April 28: Pageant princesses at pancake breakfast
* April 23: Photos of pageant princesses at recent events
* March 13: Little Miss Roanoke Valley helps crown pageant winner at Richfield
* March 6: Photo of Outstanding Teen Abby Erdman and other pageant winners
* March 2: Abby Erdman of Southwest Roanoke County crowned Miss Outstanding Teen for Smith Mountain Lake.
* Feb. 25: Pageant princesses serve pancakes at the Franklin Road IHOP
* Dec. 15: Photos of Little Miss Roanoke Valley in Roanoke Christmas parade
* Dec. 10: Photos of Miss Roanoke Valley, Miss Teen Roanoke Valley and Miss Pre-Teen Roanoke Valley at Azario's open house in Southwest Roanoke County
* Dec. 8: Photos of Little Miss Roanoke Valley (and other pageant winners) in the Vinton Christmas parade
* Sept. 30: More photos from the Miss Roanoke Valley pageant at Cave Spring High School.
* Sept. 29: Photos from the Miss Roanoke Valley pageant