EPHRATA — Ephrata resident Theresa Forster was crowned Ms. Washington Senior.

“I got a beautiful tiara and sash,” Forster said. “I am surprised and honored.”

Forster taught elementary school for 24 years. She retired from teaching in the Ephrata School District in 2001.

Forster is married to Ed Forster and has two children. Her platform is “Good Samaritan Ministry” and comes from being inspired by a personal experience.

A year ago, Theresa went to Columbia Basin Hospital’s Health Fair to receive testing. She was told she only had two weeks to live.

“I learned I had acute leukemia and I didn’t even feel sick,” Theresa recalled. “During that difficult time, many people stepped up and were there for me and my husband. This led me to start a ministry centered around this idea.”

The goal of Good Samaritan Ministry is to find people in need of help and match them up with people wanting to help. The organization offers many services, which includes delivering food, taking people for walks, doing home visits, home repairs and yard work.

Theresa started the program four months ago through St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church.

“I think we should all reach out and see what we can do for each other,” Theresa said.

Theresa also encourages people to get their health checked at least once a year.

“That would be another platform of mine if I could have another,” she said.

For now, Theresa is in remission and ready to take on new activities as Ms. Washington Senior.

“I want to share with anyone I can that we should all be so grateful for every single day we have,” she said. “Every day is a real gift and we should live our lives to the fullest.”

Pageant Director Pam Curnel said Forster was chosen because despite dealing with leukemia, she still wanted to help other people.

“Here she is battling cancer and helping others,” she said. “It amazed me. She’s thinking of others.”