Anne Giffin, the Salem resident who won Ms. Wheelchair Oregon in March, spent last week in Grand Rapids, Michigan, competing in the national Ms. Wheelchair America pageant.

Giffin spent 15 years in and out of homelessness in Salem, struggling with sobriety. After a turning point in her life, Giffin secured a spot at Salem’s Salvation Army shelter, started going to treatment and has been sober since April 2020.

After being crowned Ms. Wheelchair Oregon, Giffin shared her story with Salem Reporter.

Though she didn’t take home the crown at the national competition, Giffin told Salem Reporter in an email that she had a wonderful experience and the judges “loved my story and my determination in life today!”

“I’m grateful I made it this far!” she said of the competition. She hopes to use her platform to share the positive impacts of peer support, programs which help with recovery by connecting people with shared lived experiences like mental health conditions and substance use.

Giffin also shared some photos from her trip.