Valley business owners rally together to raise funds for local woman battling breast cancer

WASILLA — Adele Imm is currently battling breast cancer. The longtime hairdresser and Wasilla resident is considered a fixture in her community and her legacy of kindness spreads far and wide.

That’s why Jordan Elkins and Heather Greenwood switched gears on a fundraiser they were working on. They were setting up to raise money for a national campaign. But when they heard about Imm’s diagnosis, someone right around the corner who needed help, the decision was easy.

Elkins owns Innergy, a fitness studio in Wasilla. Greenwood owns a donut food truck called I Dough Know. They are teaming up to host an event Saturday called Downdogs and Donuts, referring to the common yoga pose downward facing dog and those sweet circles of fried dough.

Yoga and donuts may seem like an unlikely pair but the two women share a common adoration of Imm, a loving mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. Elkins said that she’s inspired by Imm’s strong work ethic, generosity and ceaselessly warm presence.

“Adele is always smiling… She would give anyone anything,” Elkins said.

The Downdogs and Donuts fundraiser starts at 8:30 a.m. Saturday with a donation based yoga class led by Elkins. From 9:45 a.m. to 11 a.m., attendees can purchase fresh donuts from Greenwood’s food truck, along with merchandise like stickers and T-shirts.

Greenwood will donate half the money from sales during the event and Elkins is donating everything she raises through the yoga class.

Elkins noted that October is breast cancer awareness month so this will be a good opportunity to raise awareness and encourage women to get screened.

Cash donations are preferred. The Imm family also created a GoFundMe page. To donate to Imm’s GoFundMe page, visit gofundme.com/f/aid-adele-in-her-fight-against-breast-cancer

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com