CARRIE STEINWEG

Times Correspondent

LANSING | A tribute show to Elvis and Rod Stewart on Saturday served as a get-together for 33 friends in a show of support for a Dolton woman who has a rare form of cancer.

Mary Graves was diagnosed in December with pseudomyxoma peritonei.

With no medical insurance, Graves is unable to travel to Baltimore where the closest physician specializing in the disease is located. A former bartender, Graves battled cancer about a decade ago. She has been unable to work recently due to her health problems.

Her friend Sharon Birkenfeld, of Lansing, drives Graves to her appointments at John Stroger Hospital where her condition is monitored. Birkenfeld's husband, Don, noticed a flier about the show and knew it was something his wife and Graves would enjoy, so they rounded up some friends to go. In all, 33 people went Saturday with her group, some from as far away as Oregon.

"There's no cure, the only thing they can do is operate and then the cancer is still there. She can just manage the pain," Birkenfeld said. "But they say attitude is everything, and, if that's true, she'll probably live to be 80. She has a great attitude."

Toria Copp, of Riverdale, agreed.

"She's full of life," said Copp as she watched her friend jump up and sing into the microphone with Steve Bobbitt, who was performing as Rod Stewart at American Legion Post 697. "I could never get up and do that. There's never a dull moment with her. She makes you laugh. ... She's got a lot of good friends, and she feels blessed because she does."

Graves, who is a big fan of Rod Stewart and Elvis, brought flowers for both tribute artists. She and several friends already have tickets to the Rod Stewart concert Aug. 5 at Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

Terri Winkoop, of Schererville, is a longtime friend who will be attending the concert with Graves. The two, who met when they lived in the same apartment building together, attended their first Rod Stewart concert together about 30 years ago and have been to several since then.

Graves was rarely in her seat during the show, dancing with friends and singing with the performers. She joked that Bobbitt had asked her to marry him and the two were engaged. Bobbitt dedicated Graves' favorite Rod Stewart song to her during the show "Reason to Believe," which evoked many hugs and tears from her friends.

"It's good for her to get out," said her sister, Barb Chesser, of Thornton. "It a nice get-together. She really likes to be around people."