By Edward Lynn
Editor
The Eagle Grove community is rallying once again for one of its own, with a heartfelt campaign to support beloved local resident Barb Noonan in her fight against a rare and aggressive cancer. A coin-drive fundraiser is underway at Pop’s Pizza and Pub throughout the month of May, culminating in a bingo “funraiser” on Saturday, May 31, also at Pop’s. Noonan’s cousin, Kay Poppen, is a co-owner of Pop’s.
Organizers are inviting residents to dig into couch cushions, clean out cup holders, and empty their change jars to fill up “Barbie’s jars” at Pop’s. Every coin collected throughout the month will go toward supporting Noonan’s ongoing medical journey. Folding money is welcome too, and appreciated.
This “funraiser” comes as Noonan, a pillar of the local community affectionately known to many as “Barbie,” continues her fight with signet ring cell cancer—an
exceptionally rare and aggressive form that began in her appendix and has since spread to her stomach lining, colon, and ovaries. The disease has taken a toll, but Barbie is still in this fight!
Noonan, a 1979 graduate of Eagle Grove High School and a lifelong community member, previously co-owned Noonan & Tomke Jewelers with her family and ran Piece by Piece, a shop in Clarion.
“Barbie has always been a big fan of ‘pay it forward’,” said Teresa Sadler, as Noonan’s fight began in October of last year. “Eagle Grove has already shown its ability to help others and to pull together. We can do it again.”
“She’s just lovely,” said Stacey Jorgenson. “She’s been a great pillar of this community her whole life, and she’s really struggling with this battle.”
Noonan herself acknowledged the uphill nature of her fight. “It isn’t like it’s gonna be cured and I’ll be done,” she said during a phone interview from the Mayo Clinic last October. “It’s about quality of life… I’m really relying on faith. Whatever this thing demands is what I’ve got to do.”
Community members can contribute throughout May by dropping off change at Pop’s, then join in the celebration and show of support at the May 31 bingo fundraiser. More information and a way to donate online is available via the GoFundMe page set up in her honor at gofundme.com/f/join-us-in-supporting-barb-noonans-cancer-journey.
“I’ve got good support,” said Noonan. “And that’s half of it.”
