Kokomo — Shelly Ruch thought she was going to the Markland Mall with her friend Kelly Thrall for a Zumba class on Saturday.
But when the program started, Ruch, from Converse, learned she was going to receive a free makeover from Hello Gorgeous!, a non-profit organization that provides makeovers to women battling cancer.
Ruch is currently being treated for breast cancer.
“I was excited, I really honestly was,” she said. “I haven’t felt like myself in months because of chemotherapy. I don’t have much hair. It kind of made me feel like me again.”
Mary Martin, assistant manager of marketing for the Markland Mall, said the organization began with the idea of offering free makeovers to cancer patients in the Michiana area. The idea took off, and makeovers are now taking place at many Simon Malls.
Ruch had a manicure, pedicure, facial and massage, along with makeup application, all in the mobile Hello Gorgeous DaySpa. She also received gifts from several Markland Mall merchants.
Martin said Sears gave her a choice of one of four outfits, Englin’s gave sandals, Andrew’s Jewelers gave a strand of pearls and Victoria’s Secret provided clothing.
Books-A-Million, Ben’s Soft Pretzels, Chipotle and Sunset Grill also gave gifts, Martin said, adding that she hadn’t been able to give them much notice.
“I’m enormously proud of all of them,” she said.
Ruch, who formerly was an aerobics instructor at Kokomo Sports Center, will have a mastectomy at the end of this month. She’s undergone four months of chemotherapy, and after her surgery, she will have radiation treatments.
She was diagnosed after finding a lump in her breast during a self-examination.
“It wasn’t there, and then it was, and it was quite aggressive,” she said, adding that she first thought it was nothing, and kept putting off doing anything until she could not wait.
“It was growing and it didn’t hurt,” she said, adding those are two signs of breast cancer. Ruch said she never thought she would get cancer.
“I’m an aerobic instructor, I’m fit, I take care of myself, people like me don’t get sick. Cancer doesn’t discriminate.”
She said she was diagnosed just four months after beginning work at the Wabash County YMCA, and she had plenty of support at work. She missed only a few classes during her four months of chemotherapy, and she said working helped take her mind off the cancer.
“It totally turns your life upside down. The worst part of it is not being able to do the things you want to do. I never really let it get me down.”
Ruch said she was touched by being chosen for the makeover, and by all the gifts.
“I’m at a loss for words, and that’s unusual for me. It was moving. It was sweet. Hello Gorgeous! was amazing. Those women are Godsends, they’re angels on earth. They want to spread happiness to people going through one of the worst times in their lives. This was one of the best days of my life.”
• Danielle Rush is the Kokomo Tribune education reporter. She can be reached at 765-454-8585 or danielle.rush@kokomotribune.com.
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