Kristen Dellaporta

A Decatur woman who has battled cancer wants to march in the Survivors Parade at the Kentucky Oaks race this year.

Residents can vote for Kristen Dellaporta by clicking here. Voting ends at midnight on March 31.

Dellaporta faced her cancer diagnosis with good humor and determination, according to her story on the Kentucky Derby’s website.

“True to herself, Kristen’s first thoughts upon diagnosis were of others,” her entry says. “Her instinct is to improve the lives of not just friends and family but everyone she meets, and she feared that she would do the opposite by becoming a burden on those around her. In this, no matter where cancer goes, it cannot touch her beautiful heart that is open to all, even more so these past two years.”

The Survivors Parade winners will receive two free seats at this year’s Derby, and a chance to walk the Churchill Downs track with other cancer survivors.