WATERLOO, Iowa - “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” traveled to West Union to surprise the Audrey Gibbs and her six children with a door knock that changed their lives. Audrey Gibbs is a mother, widow, farm owner and maternal optimist. Her husband died in August 2000, but Audrey won’t let anything stop her from raising her children; not even her blindness or her battle with a potentially fatal disease. The “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” design team, Larson Construction and thousands of volunteers are building them a new home this week.

In an effort to raise funds to pay off the Gibbs’ family mortgage, Larson Construction is working with National Cattle Congress in Waterloo to host a fundraiser. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” designers and rock icon, reality TV star and philanthropist, Bret Michaels, will be at the event to show their support.

The event will be held this Thursday, October 6, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at National Cattle Congress, 257 Ansborough Avenue, Waterloo, Iowa, on the outdoor dirt track. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for bleacher seating or $100 for the VIP section. The VIP section will allow guests to watch the event from a special area and meet the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” designers. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at http://www.redtrucktickets.com/.

Scheduled events include a truck sled pulling exhibition by the Fantasy Truck Pullers, a lawn mower racing exhibition by the Central Iowa Lawn Mower Racing Association and a demolition derby exhibition put on by Chad Oldenburger. Following the event, local band, Eleventh Hour will perform. There will also be an auction during the event.

Raffle tickets will be available for purchase as well. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. Prizes include an exclusive tour of the Extreme Makeover home, autographed hardhat by Ty and the design crew and autographed T-shirts by Ty and the design crew. The drawing will be held Saturday, October 8; need not be present to win.

South Winneshiek and North Fayette Schools are also hosting events in conjunction with the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. In honor of the Gibbs family, a “Fill the Bus”/”Stuff the Bus” food drive for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank will be held through Sunday, October 9. Food will be collected at all North Fayette and South Winn schools. The Northeast Iowa Food Bank serves Fayette and Winneshiek counties.

The goal is to fill the bus to the roof with non-perishable food items. Items can be brought to any attendance center or to the bus in front of the high schools from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Items that are most needed include canned meats, like tuna and chicken, peanut butter, boxed meals like tuna helper, canned fruits and vegetables, canned soups, pasta and crackers.

South Winneshiek Community Schools is hosting a “Stuff the Bus” event at the home football game this Friday night in Calmar. They are asking for non-perishable food items and coats for area families in need. In addition, items can be dropped off all week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Calmar or Ossian at South Winn Schools or Security State Bank. One or more members of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition design team will be present at half time of the game to present the donations to a representative from Feeding America. The food & paper items will go to Northeast Iowa Food Bank, which serves the counties of Fayette and Winneshiek. The coats will be distributed to local families in need. In addition, there will also be a tailgate prior to the game, starting at 5 p.m. Food items will be sold and proceeds from this will go to the Family/Build Fund to help defray costs of ongoing medical expenses and other debt.

Waukon Harley-Davidson is hosting a motorcycle ride Saturday, October 8, to benefit the Gibbs family. The ride will depart late morning from Waukon Harley-Davidson and end at the
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition construction site. Pre-registration is $20 per person and includes a t-shirt. Please call Kerri Mahr at (563) 568-3471.

The public can also help by making a monetary donation through the website www.joinextreme.com/iowa or make checks to Family/Build Fund, c/o BankIowa, PO Box 229, Independence, Iowa 50644. Funds raised will help pay off the family’s existing mortgage, ongoing medical expenses and other costs.