Christmas home tour raises funds for women battling breast cancer
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By Ken Garner
MOUNT AYR, Iowa — When it comes to women’s health, especially breast cancer, the mantra “Nobody fights alone” is often used as a rallying cry. In the past few years several local women have helped to start a movement to help those specifically battling cancer in Ringgold, Union and Decatur counties.
This year that movement has led to a Christmas Home Tour to be held on Saturday, December 13 hosted by the Mount Ayr First Christian Church. The event will start at the church at 4 p.m. with sweet confections and holiday music before heading out to various area homes for Christmas tours.
This year’s holiday event has been a few years in the making and was in part inspired by the cancer battle of Cindy Glazebrook and her granddaughter. Glazebrook is a cancer survivor and in 2023 her then 29-year-old granddaughter began her own battle against breast cancer.
“Of course it just touched my heart because what I’ve seen people go through, and what could we do that would just bring a little more easement to them, a little more joy?” Glazebrook said. “So it all started with myself having it, and then saying, what can I do? And then when my granddaughter had it, it’s like, what can we do for ladies? What could we do that would help them out? So with that, we decided, okay, let’s go ahead.
At that point Glazebrook and Mitzi Hymbaugh started plans of having a style show to support women with breast cancer. The two ladies approached area business and Snyder’s in Humeston hosted the 1st annual Breast Cancer Awareness Style Show.
The event drew, which drew more attendees than anyone imagined, has now become an annual event. The style show, which features women modeling clothing, also features women giving their own breast cancer testimonials.
“It’s just been a very heartwarming, just a good fellowship,” Glazebrook said.
With the money raised the group of ladies purchase gift cards and give to breast cancer patients in area hospitals. The local group is also in the process of partnering with Mission Cancer to reach even more individuals.
The area homes to be toured in this year’s first ever event are that of Gary and Darla Sobotka, Mary Ellen Spurrier, Justin and Chnelle Cole and Joe and Debbie Murphy.
For more information about the event, contact Hymbaugh at 641-340-4175 or on Facebook at mtayrfcc. Tickets can be purchased at Country Blossoms and at the Mount Ayr Record News ahead of the event for $15 or at the door of the church on the day of the event for $20.
