After her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Jan Little connected with The Academy of Lifetime Learning to make a quilt to for its charity auction.

Her interest in quilting began 35 years ago and 10 years after that she started making them for a reason.

Little, who has been a breast cancer survivor for 25 years, said she started giving quilts for a cause after her diagnosis.

Her newest quilt is in support of Alzheimer’s disease and raising money for the Greater Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer Association

Little’s quilt will be raffled at the “Shall We Dance” event on Saturday. The Academy of Lifetime Learning and the Gowin Parc Memory Care Facility will be having its second “Shall We Dance” fundraiser from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday in the University Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Little said she has been quilting for 35 years and is happy to use her talents for a good cause.

“Recently, my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and now lives in an Alzheimer’s care facility, so one of the places I chose to donate to was to the Alzheimer’s benefit,” Little said.

Janna Overstreet, the project coordinator for the School of Continuing Education, said all the proceeds from the dance will go to the Greater Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

She said the types of dances will range from line dancing, singles dancing, and group and couples dances. The dress for the dance is casual to business casual.

Overstreet said she encourages members from all generations to attend the event. Overstreet said they help support the event because the academy supports educational programs from people 50 and older.

“By being involved in this event, we are taking care of those who can no longer be involved and enjoy life-long learning activities,” Overstreet said.

There will also be food and drinks at the event. Throughout the dance, there will also be an auction and a raffle.

Raffle tickets will be $1 for a single ticket or $5 for six tickets. Overstreet said there will also be a silent auction with items from $10 to more than $300.

Tickets for the dance are $5 for Eastern students and academy members and $10 for the general public. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling 581-5114.

Overstreet said it is a fun way to support a good cause. “I know the Alzheimer’s association and their resources can be a great support to family members and even those in early stages of Alzheimer’s,” Overstreet said.

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812 or slmcdaniel@eiu.edu.