On April 16, 2008, The Wagon Lady departed from Savannah on a quest to Atlanta.  The journey was to take sixteen days and in fact took six weeks, five days finishing June 2, 2008 at 10:19 a.m.  Being a child abuse and neglect survivor herself, her goal was to help raise greater awareness on the issues surrounding child abuse and neglect while inspiring victims to recover from their past traumas and fight to prevent the cycle of trauma.  However, as the miles went by, she realized it was a journey symbolic of the every day life... survival and learning to thrive in the place we survive. 

Embarking on this monumental journey would be amazing for anyone to complete but imagine completing it while having medical complications.  Ms. Milano says, "If life has beat your *** once for something, why let it beat your *** over and over and over again?  I've lived with these illnesses since I was a child but they don't control me... I control them, this way I am able to accomplish thriving in spite of their occupancy.  I take my meds and discipline my mind.  I've been down the road of violation, I know how it ends, existence.  I've chosen another road and I know how it ends, life.   When we discover a better way, we realize we have every reason in the world to consider doing the wrong thing but we have no excuse for doing it.  Once you know you are heading in a negative direction use all your fight to back out and get on the good foot.  When you find you are loosing the fight, open your arms and reach out to those who can fight with and for you. Yield to life and all that is good and prosperous.  Unshackle shame and fight for your life! " 

Along the way she shared her recovery story relating to countless survivors on the roadside.  Now, after 250 plus miles of eventful encounters to include surviving being side swiped by a semi truck, The Wagon Lady has stories to tell that will help inspire you along your personal life journey.   Ms. Milano states, "It started out as my journey and my purpose but ended up being my purpose and our journey... that is life!"  Memorabilia products are currently being replicated for those of you who wish to treasure the memory of this once in a life time event.  Stay tuned for more.

Everyone wants to know... where did the wagon come from?  Well, the wagon used to be in a casino out west that closed.  Ms. Milano first set eyes on the wagon in a Hotel Liquidation store in Colorado a little over four years ago.  When the vision to use the wagon came to be, the wagon underwent a mechanical reconstruction thanks to MiDAS on Victory Drive in Savannah and Savannah Tire on Waters Avenue.  Ms. Milano and her team built in structural reinforcements to take on the winds of Georgia.  Safety modifications were added and the Kiosk became the Golden Wagon. 

The Golden Wagon Holding Rights will one day be auctioned off to help raise resources needed to maintain the ongoing social service projects provided by the organization Ms. Milano (The Wagon Lady) founded in 2007.  The organization is called SWR (Stop~Watch & Respond), started in memory of her sister who did not survive their childhood circumstances of abuse and neglect. 

UPDATE  We will be auctioning the Golden Wagon Holding Rights to help finance the ongoing efforts of STOP~WATCH & Respond!  The auction is postponed to the year 2010, during the anniversary celebration of the 250 Mile Push for Awareness.   The event will be held as part of a The Sweet Tea Jamboree (Link coming soon) in Savannah Ga!  Come back often for official dates and location for the "The Golden Wagon Children's Benefit Auction" (Sponsors Still Needed).

Video Brought to you by ECG Productions 

The Wagon Lady intends on marketing a complete life enhancement product line fashioned to generate revenue which will be contributed to her 10 year goal of building the First National Center for Holistic Abuse Recovery in Savannah, a cause to which she has clearly dedicated her life.  "People look at me, then they look at my wagon and they smile saying, 'you pushed that from Savannah to Atlanta?'  I smile back wondering if they think I am too big a woman or the wagon is too big... lol... 'Yes, I am the one pushing this wagon.'  Then they proceed to say, 'You must be fit.'   Knowing darn well I am unfit for the task, I laugh responding... 'it is not the condition of the vessel but of it's heart.'  Love is the strongest force in the universe."   This is her passion, her vision, her life long purpose.  Ms. Milano wishes that everyone not forget, she is a mother first, an activist for the Children's Defense Movement second and an advocate of victim recovery always.  She promotes health awareness with ambitious goals believing that what can take a hundred years or even a life time to fix starts with right now.  "Though the story of The Wagon Lady is memorable, the cause is unforgettable.  My heart is here... this is where I will bury it."... Ms. Milano 

 *Ms. Milano is available for Public Speaking Engagements Nation Wide.  Don't miss The Low Country Library Tour Coming November 2009! 

CLICK HERE for more details

SNEAK PEAK!  COMING SUMMER 2010!  THE POCKET BOOK COLLECTION

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