Dr. Deidre Downs Gunn, a former Miss America and Miss Alabama, speaks Monday at the Hope for the Holidays benefit dinner. Gunn is now a doctor in Birmingham and campaigns for funding for pediatric cancer research.

It took five tries for Dr. Deidre Downs Gunn to win the title of Miss Alabama, but when she did, she went on to also claim the title of Miss America 2005.

Gunn used her time as Miss America to campaign for research funding for pediatric cancer, which inspired her post-pageant career as a family doctor. The UAB physician was the featured speaker Monday at the Hope for the Holidays benefit dinner at the Limestone County Event Center.

Hope for the Holidays is the year-end event for the Eli’s Block Party Childhood Cancer Foundation, formerly known as Team Victory 4 All. The nonprofit group raises funds for pediatric cancer research as well as money to support local families with their cancer journey and funeral expenses when a child dies from the disease.

Gunn said she couldn’t turn down supporting the group and encouraged those in attendance to keep up their work. As Miss America, she visited dozens of children’s hospitals and cancer charities. At the beginning of her medical career, she volunteered with UAB’s pediatric cancer initiatives.

“It was a really good experience,” she said. “But through all of it, I realized the only way we were going to make a difference with this is through research.”

In 2005, Gunn partnered with health officials to design a specialty Alabama license plate. Portions of the registration of each plate, which are still available today, go to The Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders. Over the past 11 years, Gunn said the plates have raised more than $2 million for pediatric cancer research.

“That was something we were really proud of,” she said.

Gunn praised the Eli’s Block Party Childhood Cancer Foundation for its work in the community, including the annual Superhero Day held at Big Spring Memorial Park and the Eli’s Block Party car show. These events provide funding to the research field.

“We have the ability to do things that may seem small, but are really, cumulatively, big,” she said. “What you’re doing is important and it really makes a difference.”

For more information about pediatric cancer and how to help locally, visit www.elisblockparty.org.