Music with a Purpose event to support local women battling breast cancer

As Breast Cancer Awareness month draws to a close Monday, Jill Tutt is nowhere near the conclusion of her work in relation to the disease. A lifelong lover of music and the founder of the Shirley Dixon Breast Cancer Foundation, Tutt will host an event Tuesday night that will go to benefit two organizations.

“I’m partnering with Relay for Life of Marengo County. Whatever we raise, I’m going to share with Relay for Life. The event will be from 5-7 at Cornerstone Church in Linden on Tuesday night, Nov. 1. It’s a come-and-go, very casual event. It’s not a service. You just come in. My new album will be playing,” Tutt said. “Around 5:30, we’ll have at least 20 breast cancer survivors coming. I’m going to honor the breast cancer survivors, name them and say how long they’ve been free. I want to take a minute to say their names, give them a gift. I have a little surprise for them. I think Relay for Life has something to give them as well.”

Tutt’s new album, Christmas of Peace, ties in perfectly with the Music with a Purpose event at Cornerstone Church.

“The album is for all women who have had breast cancer or it has affected any member of their family,” Tutt explained. “My Music with a Purpose really focuses on Shirley Dixon Breast Cancer Foundation. My foundation helps women who have breast cancer that may need some help financially. So far, we’ve had five recipients. The foundation is growing. Really, my music funds my foundation.”

The catered event will feature both of Tutt’s albums as well as T-shirts and sweatshirts. All proceeds from those sales will go to benefit both the Shirley Dixon Breast Cancer Foundation and Relay for Life of Marengo County.

“What’s good is that I help local women. I can see them. I can touch them so to speak and I know who we’re helping,” Tutt said. “It is different from a national (organization). You have CEOs and secretaries. We have none of that at mine. There’s just no overhead, so all the money goes to these women, so that’s exciting.”

The foundation is named in honor of Tutt’s late mother, who lost her battle with breast cancer more than a decade ago.

“She passed away 13 years ago of breast cancer. It’s a tough thing. She almost made it five years and then it reoccurred,” Tutt said. “She was a giver. She was an anonymous giver, so it’s exciting that I have a foundation named after her because she was all about giving to people.”