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St. Charles woman helping deck out White House for the holidays

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to clarify which kind of cancer Leslie Warmus survived and her hometown.

An ovarian cancer survivor, Leslie Warmus hopes to cross off one item from her bucket list this weekend.

Warmus, of St. Charles, will be among 85 volunteers helping decorate the White House for the holidays, including decking out one of about a dozen Christmas trees.

"It was something I always wanted to do," she said. "I'm crazy excited."

Warmus' husband, Andy, a utilities superintendent for the village of Algonquin, applied online over the summer for a chance to volunteer at the White House.

While she was picked, he didn't make the cut but went along to provide moral support because it was her dream, Warmus said.

"I've just always been drawn to Christmas. I love the colors. I love the sentiment behind it - peace on Earth," she said.

Warmus, 49, describes herself as a Christmas fanatic.

"I love all the decorations. I love the sparkle, glitter and glow of Christmas," she said.

She owns more than 10,000 ornaments, has put up seven trees thus far this season and decks out her home each year with elaborate scenes of villages.

Warmus will spend Friday and Saturday sorting decorations with other volunteers. They will spend the following three days decorating the White House, including five rooms, at least a dozen trees, mantles, and table scapes.

"I could possibly be decorating the private quarters or the official tree in the Blue Room of the White House," Warmus said.

HGTV will run a special on White House Christmas decorations Dec. 14 and 15.

"I understand the first lady will be walking through and giving her comments," Warmus said. "I'm just excited and want to do my part and do a good job. Thousands of people will see it through the holiday season. I want to put my little sparkle to it."

Press photographers photograph the White House Christmas tree in the Blue Room of the White House in Washington last year. The 18.5-foot Douglas fir from Lehighton, Penn., features decorations honoring military families. Associated Press
The ornament laden White House Christmas tree is seen in the Blue Room of the White House in Washington last December. Associated Press
Last year's official White House Christmas tree arrives outside the North Portico of the White House in Washington Nov. 29, 2013. Associated Press
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