Local singer Jill Tutt is teaming up with the American Cancer Society for a special listening party that will benefit the Marengo County Relay for Life and the Shirley Dixon Breast Cancer Foundation.
Tutt’s latest CD will be featured at the event titled “Music With A Purpose,” to be held Tuesday, Nov. 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Cornerstone Church in Linden. All sales of CDs and other merchandise will be split evenly between Relay for Life and the Shirley Dixon Breast Cancer Foundation. Tutt said several local businesses are sponsoring the event.
Tutt said she wants the event to be very casual, describing it as “come-and-go.”
“It will be a catered, come-and-go event. We chose the time so that people might stop by on their way home from work,” Tutt said.
Also in attendance will be local breast cancer survivors who will be honored with a special hand-made gift and Tutt said she welcomes additional survivors to attend.
The battle against breast cancer is a personal one for Tutt. The Shirley Dixon Foundation is named for her mother who passed away from breast cancer 13 years ago.
“Singing is one of my passions and I try to use that to fund the foundation,” she said. “The foundation helps breast cancer patients with a variety of needs, from prescription costs to gas money that helps them travel for treatments.”
For her holiday album, “A Christmas of Peace,” Tutt specifically wanted to reach out to those who have fought breast cancer.
“This album is all pink and is I dedicated it to all survivors and their families,” she said.
As for the music, Tutt said this album features a jazzier tone than her previous recordings.
Doris Stephens, event planner with the ACS, said money raised through the event would benefit the 2016 Relay for Life fundraising season.
“The money the community raises through Relay for Life helps with Hope Lodge, Ride to Recovery, which provides transportation to doctor visits, cancer research and lobbying efforts. We see direct community benefit through the funds that are raised. Our ultimate goal is to find a cure,” Stephens said.
Those involved with Relay for Life hope this event will help generate more funds and community participation in the coming Relay for Life campaign.
“We are very proud to work with (Tutt) on this event and appreciate her using her gift of music to help Relay for Life and its quest of finding a cure,” Stephens added.
“Finding a cure and helping those who are fighting breast cancer is what the Shirley Dixon Breast Cancer Foundation is all about … and it is what my music is all about,” Tutt said.
Business sponsors for the event include: Cornerstone Church, Demopolis Hardwood, First Bank of Linden, Gibbs and Sellers, Lloyd and Dinning, Papa’s Foods, Parr’s Chevron, Windham Motors, and Ziggy Zelda’s.