Castle's Tamala Jones Involved With Model Search

TAMALA JONES, LUXURY HAT MAKER CANADA BLISS, AND JOE NIEKRO FOUNDATION LAUNCH BRAIN ANEURYSM MODEL SEARCH (Los Angeles, Friday. 05.15.15) -- Today, in an effort to raise awareness of a sudden and fatal illness that claims nearly 500,000 lives annually,  actress Tamala Jones ("Castle") is teaming with the Joe Niekro Foundation and luxury hat maker Canada Bliss in a model search for brain aneurysms survivors.   Running now through June 5 the Brain Aneurysm Survivor Model Search is looking for survivors age 18 and older to appear in advertising for Tamala By Canada Bliss, Jones' signature line of hand-crocheted hats. To enter participants must submit a 500 word essay along with two photos to  BASurvivorModelSearch@gmail.com .  "This is more than a model search, it a message to survivors that by sharing our stories we help save lives,"  says Jones who suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm at age 23.  "For a long time I did not discuss my brain aneurysm out of fear, so I understand the silence of survivors but now we are giving them not only a voice but faces too." The model search is also the start of Jones' personal aneurysm early detection campaign and survivor self-esteem initiative that seeks to educate the public on the warning signs and symptoms of brain aneurysms by encouraging survivors to share their stories and show post aneurysm successes.  Luxury hat maker Canada Bliss worked with Jones to create the signature line  Tamala By Canada Bliss to help raise awareness of brain aneurysms.  The company is now taking its altruism a step further by placing survivors chosen via the model search in advertising for the brand.  Proceeds from the sales of  Tamala By Canada Blissbenefit brain aneurysm awareness and research.   "One of the central values of Canada Bliss is celebrating the simple joys and diversities of life.  Being part of the Brain Aneurysm Survivor Model Search embodies all of these values, " said Karen Viloria-Miguel the CEO of Canada Bliss.  "It is a privilege to be involved in supporting brain aneurysm survivors; honoring their struggles and celebrating their lives." In a twist of fate, Natalie Niekro founder of the Joe Niekro Foundation contacted  Viloria-Miguel about  Tamala By Canada Bliss via social media to applaud her and the company for their efforts to promote brain aneurysm awareness and ended up joining the campaign.   "We are thrilled to be collaborating with Tamala, Canada Bliss and survivors across America. This is a wonderful testament to survivors everywhere that awareness is beautiful and chic," said Niekro who  lost her father major league baseball legend Joe Niekro to a brain aneurysm in 2006.  "What an incredible day it will be when we get to witness these courageous survivors representing a platform that is so vitally important to our mission." With women being 50% more likely to suffer an aneurysm than men Jones, Viloria-Miguel and Niekro are the ideal advocates for this cause that currently claims nearly 500,000 lives annually; approximately 30,000 Americans suffer a rupture each year, that is roughly one rupture every 18 minutes.  Those numbers outpace more well know illnesses like breast cancer and ALS.  Links to enter the model search may also be found canada-bliss.com, joeniekrofoundation.com and at  tamala-jones.com/modelsearch. Participants must submit a 500 words essay along with two photos to be eligible for consideration. Submissions close  at midnight June 5th.