When she asked her teenage daughters whether or not she should accept the American Cancer Society's Mother of the Year award, the response was a resounding, "Mom, of course." So Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, accepted the anti-cancer honor this week and told ABC's George Stephanopolous on Sunday why she is a good mom and a healthy role model.

"They see that I go running, I get on my bicycle, I do yoga, pilates, whatever else I do," Ferguson said. "Do you know what they do? Get up off the sofa, turn the television off, walk to work, walk around the block, more vegetables, more fruits at school, less soda pops, less fast food."

Ferguson, 47, says cancer prevention starts with good role modeling -- which is exactly what she has done as mom to princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

"I can safely say one of the best things I've done is be a good mother," Ferguson said.

Ferguson, author of memoir My Story and spokeswoman for Weight Watchers, first became known as the wife of Britain's Prince Andrew, the Duke of York. The pair divorced in 1996, but Ferguson's positive public persona has remained untarnished.

I will be a cancer survivor for the rest of my life. I don't think my modeling career will have that kind of longevity, though. I gave it a try -- I am not sure how I was convinced to participate as a model in a fashion show when my personality is so not conducive to strutting on a runway -- and I think I will retire after my short stint in the spotlight. The spotlight was my biggest problem really. When I walked out on stage -- two times -- I was blinded by bright lights shining in my eyes and was somewhat paralyzed by the total darkness I saw in the audience of about 700 people who came to watch me and 84 other cancer survivors this past March in the Cure by Design fashion show, sponsored by my local American Cancer Society office. I heard clapping and shouting and cheering but could not see anything in front of me. I had no sense of where my family members sat in the crowd and felt disoriented and confused. It didn't help that I had to follow arrows that were taped on the stage -- reminders of the path I had to travel on stage -- and had to wave and smile and look relaxed. Relaxed I was not -- and I am sure it was obvious to those whose faces I never could see.

I am not the model pictured above -- the model who looks poised and polished and comfortable -- but I was a model who, despite the anxiety of it all, was fully moved and touched and amazed by this event that raised more than $175,000 for the American Cancer Society of Alachua County.

Models ranged in age from 18 months to 80 years. Men, women, and children -- all survivors of cancer -- joined together in friendship and survivorship. We mingled in our dressing rooms, were treated to professional hair and make-up services, enjoyed food and refreshments, and were honored by a banquet after the show. It was quite an experience -- and it is so thrilling to know that through ticket sales and donations and an auction afterwards that so much money was raised for future efforts in the fight against cancer.

I am not sure if I will resume my role as model in next year's show -- I may be more of a behind-the-scenes person -- but I do know that Cure by Design is an event that enlightened me and inspired me and reminded me that I am surely not alone.