'Lifelong dream worth sharing': Mule Day Queen shares crown with 20-year-old fighting cancer

One of the big highlights of Mule Day is crowning the annual Mule Day Queen, and this year the tradition will include a little something extra special.

After being crowned 2024's Mule Day Queen, Anissa Grimes approached the Mule Day board with an idea, one that would not only keep up the years-long tradition but also create a new space for an honorary Mule Day Queen.

The honor to wear the banner for the first time, while also commemorating Mule Day's 50th anniversary, went to 20-year-old Carly McGee.

More: Mule Day saddles up to celebrate 50th year with Clay Walker as Grand Marshal

"My goal this year was to make my mark on Mule Day history, something that people will remember and that Mule Day Queens of the future can make their own," Grimes said. "I thought this was a great idea, and I'm getting to share this experience with someone else who truly does deserve it."

McGee said she is looking forward to this year's festivities, as well as riding in the Mule Day parade for the first time.

Reigning as Mule Day Honorary Queen is also a chance to take part in something positive, considering McGee's story over the last couple of years battling a rare form of cancer.

"I'm excited, because I was thinking about doing it [competing to be Mule Day Queen] this year, but then I got sick," McGee said. "It's always something I've wanted to do, so when I was asked I thought, 'Why not?.'"

A lifelong dream, despite getting sick

Growing up in Maury County, McGee had always loved the idea of participating in local pageants, but those dreams were stalled when she became sick in 2022.

McGee was diagnosed with Stage 4 Rhabdomyosarcoma cancer, a rare form which develops in soft tissue. After multiple visits with doctors at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, it was discovered that the cancer had spread, now forming multiple tumors inside the brain.

"They were able to remove the front tumor, which was the largest," April Prince, McGee's mother, said. "At that point, we had a very hard conversation, because when the cancer spreads to the brain there is no cure. But she has kept faith like no other, knows that God is the ultimate physician, and we believe that."

McGee is currently on a chemotherapy regimen, which includes a daily pill, though she still struggles with platelet levels in her blood.

"She gets immunocompromised if it gets too low, and so she takes weekly injections to try and keep her white blood cells high, and a platelet injection to keep her platelets high," Prince said. "She has disease evaluations every two weeks."

Her experience has also inspired a potential career path. Having a passion for healthcare, particularly in the dental field, McGee said she hopes to one day pursue an education in oncology.

"I've been so inspired by all of it that I thought it would be cool to be an oncologist, or a nurse, which was originally what I wanted to be," McGee said. "I've always been drawn to the health care field."

McGee is also a state champion sharpshooter while a student at Santa Fe Unit School.

"When people hear about that, they say, 'There's no way she can shoot that," Prince said.

Creating positivity out of pain

Part of McGee's journey has been by telling her story on social media, primarily through her Carly's Cancer Journey Facebook page.

Grimes said McGee being so open about sharing her journey as well as her own personal experience dealing with a family member's battle with cancer inspired her to include her as the honorary queen.

"Her story really touched me, as I am the daughter of a parent who has passed away from brain cancer, my father," Grimes said. "It really hit me in the heart, and I wanted to give her this experience. I never thought it would happen to me, and it's been so amazing, something I think every girl deserves to have."

McGee and her family say that the online support, as well as the care given by St. Jude, has been a big help, and that remaining positive throughout all of the doctor visits, surgeries and therapy, while also getting to take part in her community's largest event, has made all the difference.

"People have shown me so much love and have been praying," McGee said. "It's been a great way to bring awareness about childhood cancer and what we have to go through."

Her mother also hopes her daughter's story is a way for others to relate, especially parents with children going through similar situations.

"It's very personal to put out your information about what's going on, but we thought it would be a good idea to turn some form of purpose out of this pain," Prince said. "We thought it could bring a lot of good out of some of what she was experiencing."

Jay Powell is a general reporter for The Daily Herald. Get up-to-date news in your inbox by subscribing to The Daily Herald newsletter at www.ColumbiaDailyHerald.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Mule Day Queen shares crown with 20-year-old fighting cancer