Organization cleans homes of women being treated for cancer

ELM GROVE -- Coming home to a clean house is especially meaningful to Karen Rothe. Cleaning is at the bottom of Karen's priority list -- as she was diagnosed with uterine cancer in January.

"It's such a great feeling to walk through the rooms and just go, 'Ah, this is one less thing on my plate,'" Rothe said.

Rothe said receiving her diagnosis was tough.

"The first thing that came to my mind was that I wouldn't see my children graduate from high school. Then I called my husband to come home and I think when I heard him crying, then I started crying," Rothe said.

Through her nurse, Rothe learned about Cleaning for a Reason. The organization finds free house cleaning services for women going through cancer treatment.

"When she handed me that paper I was like 'oh my gosh, it`s the Holy Grail.' It was wonderful," Rothe said.

"The Maids" are a part of Cleaning for a Reason. Each month they clean the home of two female cancer patients -- helping out for four months.

"It`s a great way to give these stressed out women that are fatigued help and take cleaning off their plate so that they`re feeling good about not having to clean and they can really focus on themselves," The Maids owner Sue Peerenboom said.

It was critical for Rothe to live in a clean environment as she had a suppressed immune system while undergoing chemotherapy.

"We`re cleaning light switches and door knobs preventing germs and viruses as well as showers and tubs preventing mold and mildew," Peerenboom said.

As Rothe completes chemo and hopes for a bright future, The Maids get ready to help another woman and make a difference one home at a time.

CLICK HERE for additional information on "Cleaning for a Reason."