Collegiate Times

When senior animal science and biology double major Ashley Grapes was trying to think of a benefit for her sister Erin Sterling, who has Lyme disease, she first thought of dancing.

"Before she got sick, she would belly dance," Ashley said. "She was actually really good. She was a professional belly dancer. She will improv a song and you will not know she's improving. She's just beautiful, just captivating when she dances."

Saturday evening a DJ, Salsa Tech and both hip hop and belly dancers will perform at V.T.'s Sports Bar & Grill, located on 221 Progress St., for Sterling.

Dancing is also something that unites her family.

"Dancing is one more thing that we get to do together. We love getting together and dancing. I know other families eat or watch TV or go out to the movie. We just like to get together and dance," Ashley said.

Grapes said belly dancing is a celebration of life and she wanted the event to promote that idea and have a more "party" atmosphere.

"I just want them to have fun," Sterling said. "I've got a lot of support and I just can't wait to be there."

She said she loves performing and might potentially dance at the benefit but it's difficult because of her illness.

"I never really know how I'm going to feel until that day," Sterling said. "If I do dance, I'm going to pay for it the next day."

Grapes said she realizes it's hard for people to attend a benefit when they don't know the benefactor, but she has already been impressed with the support she's received from the groups performing Saturday.

The money raised at the event will go toward Sterling's medical bills.

While Sterling's illness has been both financially and emotionally tough for her whole family, Grapes said it has brought her and Sterling together.  

"It's really sad, you always hear that things happen for a reason, but I really just don't see the truth in that in this case. It's just really, really sad," Grapes said.  "At the same time, it's made her and I a lot closer. I'm really happy to do this for her ... I've pretty much done everything. Most of my days I go to the Math Emporium to study and I'm writing emails for this the entire time. I'm happy to do it."

Grapes also assists Sterling by cleaning her house and taking care of her two sons when she is home. She said it's been tough for her sister who was very independent before.

"When she was growing up, she was in jazz and she did modern (dance), she did sports. She graduated a year early from high school. She got straight A's. She was always perfect. Then she got married when she was 19 and they have two beautiful kids, Aidan and Devin," Grapes said. "She just had this perfect life and out of nowhere, she got really sick. We all thought ... it will get better. But then it hasn't and it's been really hard, especially in the economy right now."

Sterling had just moved into a new house when she fell ill and had to quit her job because she was so sick.  

Sterling became ill shortly after the birth of her second child in March 2006. She underwent antibiotic therapy for a year, which was ineffective, and was officially diagnosed with Lyme disease in April 2007. Lymedisease is a tick-borne illness and if left untreated can affect the joints, heart and nervous system.

Sterling, 29, said she is always tired doesn't think she'll ever fully recover because of damage to her nerve endings.

Even though Sterling may not make it onto the stage, she said seeing her sister's emotional response about the event make it worth it.

"Just the fact that she's happy and excited about it makes me happy and excited," Sterling said.

Ashley and Sterling's sister Audra Grapes, a December 2003 alumnae in interdisciplinary studies, will perform at the benefit.

"It's always nice when you get to go to a show," Audra said. "But it's nicer when you do it for a good cause."