Redmond Woman Fighting Cancer Gets Makeover, Ball

Sifting through news articles, it’s easy to tell that Jude Anders-Gilbert has gone through a lot. Diagnosed six years ago with Stage 4 colon cancer, she was basically told to get her affairs in order.

“It’s the infection that has stopped me from healing,” Anders-Gilbert said Saturday.

She battles on though, working at her antique shop in Redmond. Right next to Sweet Peas ‘n Me baby store, where Kari Bennett works. Bennett also puts on the Umbrella for Life support group for women, children and teens.

“I’m a mentor for a lot of women — to have a mentor is pretty special to me,” said Bennett, speaking of Anders-Gilbert.

The two women have become close friends, and Bennett wanted to do something for her.

“This is about the ball,” Bennett said. “I can’t wait to see you step out of the car and be the movie star tonight, but you are that person every day.”

Bennett arranged for an evening ball at Red Rooster restaurant in Redmond, complete with a silent auction featuring donated items from area merchants.

“I’m going to feel like I’m not real, I’m sure — you know, ‘This is kind of a dream sequence and I’m going to wake up any minute now,'” Anders-Gilbert said.

While the ball was being put together, Bennett gave Anders-Gilbert a complete makeover, with makeup and a haircut.

“We wanted Jude to really feel special,” Bennett said. “When you work in a shop, you don’t get a lot of time for yourself.”

“These last 10 years, I’ve finally started feeling hope again for people actually caring about each other and wanting to make communities work,” Anders-Gilbert said.

Bennett says she had no problem getting people to help out at Saturday night’s ball. The DJ was donated, Red Rooster donated the space for the ball, and Devine Design gave Anders-Gilbert that new haircut.