CARBONDALE — Carbondale community members are stepping up for one of their own, helping Kasie Burtard, a 25-year-old Carbondale native and Roaring Fork High School grad who was paralyzed in a 2002 car accident, seek the medical treatment she needs to fulfill hopes of walking again.

Over the last few months, Burtard has been raising money for stem cell therapy in India. However, with her expenses totaling $84,100, she is nowhere near having enough money.

A benefit “Sweetheart Ball for a Local Sweetheart,” to help Burtard finance her treatment, will take place at the Carbondale Fire Training Center on Friday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m. The event will include live music by Dan Ford at 5:30 p.m., followed by Heart of the Rockies, plus a five-course dinner by Big Mama’s Catering and other local chefs, and a silent auction.

Tickets are $75 per couple and $40 per person, and there will be two seatings for the dinner, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., with a menu of appetizers, salad, soup, potatoes, vegetables, shrimp scampi, beef tenderloin and dessert.

“We hope to give Kasie over $20,000 from both the dinner and the auction,” said Kathy Ortiz of Big Mama’s Catering, who is helping to organize the event. “The money will go directly to her so that she can use it for what she needs most.”

Ortiz is also in need of volunteers to help set up, serve and clean up the event; call 963-2432 or 618-6443 if interested.

Although Ortiz and Burtard were only acquaintances, Ortiz decided it was important to step up and help send Burtard to India. When explaining her motivation to organize the event, she noted how close the community of Carbondale is.

Ortiz also stated how much hope Burtard radiates that this endeavor could be her answer. Stem cell treatment is a very controversial issue in the United States, and therefore isn’t available here.

Stated one of Burtard’s friends, who created a Web site about Burtard and her trip to India, “It is often very disheartening not only to the people who could benefit from it, but also to their friends and family who must sit by and know they can’t receive such treatment here in the U.S.A.”

Willing to travel the extra mile for a chance at results is inspiring.

“I’m so grateful,” said Burtard. “It’s cool to know that people care enough to put their own time and money into helping me, and I’m so happy to have that support system. There are so many generous people here.”

Burtard has spent extensive time in physical therapy and acupuncture, and has ventured to many hospitals specializing in spinal cord injuries.

With uncompromising determination, she has even been able to take 132 steps with a walker.

“I will have a full recovery, which in my mind means walking again,” she said.

Burtard will be in India for two months starting Feb. 29. Each day, she will have embryonic stem cells injected into her spinal cord, followed by physical therapy and another injection in the evening.

“The therapy will re-grow my nerves and hopefully help to regain feeling and movement in my legs,” Burtard explained.

Burtard is one of three valley women who seek this expensive and still experimental therapy. Amanda Boxtel, Challenge Aspen co-founder, and Leah Roland are both in similar situations. A poker fundraiser was held in Aspen late last year to benefit all three of the women.

Having already received treatment, Boxtel has said that her two months in India has paid off, and she has gained some feeling and movement in her legs.

Burtard’s treatment will be done by Dr. Geeta Shroff of Nu-Tech Medical World, who has used the groundbreaking therapy to give more than 70 other spinal injury patients results.

Before her injury, Burtard loved the outdoors and physical activity. Horseback riding was not a hobby for her, it was a passion, she said.

Although she still is able to continue riding to some degree, it is not to her full extent.

“I know I will walk again,” said Burtard.

Determination has pushed her this far, and with a little help, she can reach her goal.

For more information or to make a donation to the silent auction, call Aspen/Sotheby’s International Realty, 963-5177. For more information about Kasie Burtard’s quest, visit: http://helpkasieburtard.wetpaint.com.