Yellowknife (Aug 25/06) - Over and over again, Yellowknife has proven itself to be a city with a big heart.

This Sunday, the city will show it one more time as the Gold Range hosts a huge gathering of support for a cherished Yellowknife performer.

Bobbi Bouvier performs as a special guest during the North of 60 Junior Idol in April. A benefit for the singer and multi-instrumentalist will take place this Sunday at the Gold Range to raise money for her medical expenses. - NNSL file photo Transverse Myelitis is a neurological disorder caused by inflammation of the spinal cord. The disorder damages nerve cell fibres, interrupting communication between nerves in the spinal cord and the rest of the body, causing pain, muscle weakness or paralysis. Causes can include abnormal immune system response to a virus or some autoimmune diseases like lupus or Devic disease. In acute cases, symptoms can appear within hours or days. Some people with the disorder recover with little or no permanent effects, while others are permanently affected.

Singer, bassist, guitarist and fiddler Bobbi Bouvier will be honoured at the event, which will raise funds for rehabilitation and home care following her battles with a serious spinal condition.

For the last several months, Bouvier has dealt with transverse myelitis, a disorder that damages nerves in the spine, causing muscle weakness, and in some cases, paralysis.

"It changes your whole life," said Meda Shannahan, Bouvier's partner. "It's a learning curve for us."At present, she said Bouvier is paralyzed from the "chest down."

The benefit, which will feature prize raffles and a number of local musicians, is being organized by Gold Range general manager Nadene McMenemy.

She said she was happy to help an old friend.

"I just think that she's a really special person. What better place than the place she played for years?"

"She's almost part of the Gold Range staff, she's played there so much," McMenemy said with a laugh.

To help raise funds, McMenemy has been contacting Yellowknife businesses, looking for donations to be raffled off as prizes at the benefit.

"There's not a local business that I have called that has turned me down. It was no more than a phone call and 'yep, we're on board.' There was no hesitation at all."

So far, she has received a trip for two to Edmonton from Canadian North, a custom piece donated by jeweller Francois (T-Bo) Thibault, a "sizable" donation from the Ladies Auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion, among many others. Also, she said her staff volunteered to donate their wages and all of their tips from Sunday to the cause.

"Bobbi is very well liked. She's a very warm, friendly person and it's easy to like her. That's why she has all the friends she does," McMenemy said.

On a Tuesday night at the Gold Range, one of these friends, Jarvis Gray, was hard at work selling raffle tickets for the event.

"She's got the best voice of anyone I've heard," he said of Bouvier, between warnings that tickets might all sell out.

"He's a born salesman," said Norbert Poitras of Gray, another of Bouvier's friends and fellow musicians, who played with her in the Outlaw Band.

"(Bobbi) is an awesome musician, one of the best in town," he said. "It's for a good cause. All the musicians who know Bobbi should show up."

Shannahan said the benefit couldn't have come at a better time to raise her and Bouvier's spirits.

"The medical system let her down. They didn't do anything for her. We never had any answers other than "we don't know."

"Nadene is just awesome. She does this for everyone. Whenever anyone is up in need she steps right up to the plate."

"She's like a guardian angel."

The door opens for the benefit at noon, and festivities get underway at 3 p.m.