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$1,500 – That’s a nice chunk of change, but is it enough to completely change someone’s life?

University of Washington, Tacoma senior Aurora Jewell would say no.

For Jewell, $1,500 – what some students pay in rent every month – is not enough to change one life, it’s enough to change five. That sum is enough to cure five women of fistula, a condition that mainly affects females from impoverished countries.

And that’s the amount of money she is hoping to raise at a fundraiser May 6, being held at the Swiss Tavern. By using her connections in the Tacoma music scene and knocking on countless virtual doors via MySpace, Jewell lined up nine area bands to play the charity event. She also plans to raffle off a ton of swag, including goods from Northwest Snowboards and numerous other local vendors.

“I wanted to do something within my community to help a global issue,” Jewell said. “I think every woman should have a right to safe motherhood no matter what country they’re from.”

Fistula – more specifically, obstetric fistula – is a hole in the birth canal caused by prolonged labor without prompt medical attention. Oftentimes, the baby dies during birth, and the woman is left suffering from uncontrollable bowel movements and urination.

The condition occurs disproportionately among impoverished girls and women in third-world countries: At least 2 million women in Africa, Asia and the Arab region are living with the condition, according to the United Nations Population Fund.

However, the disease is highly treatable with a $300 operation. Unfortunately, that amount of money is too much for impoverished people.

Enter Jewell, who hopes to eradicate the condition – at least for a few women.

She first learned about Fistula while interning at Planned Parenthood. “It really bothered me – knowing this was a problem in the U.S. years ago, but we eradicated it with proper treatment and education,” she said.

It bothered her so much that she felt compelled to take drastic action. In March, Jewell undertook the huge task of throwing a charity event – something she’s never done – mostly by herself. However, her connections and friends in the local community quickly jumped on board.

“I thought, ‘I’m gonna do it… I’m gonna throw a benefit.’ But it’s a lot of freaking work. There’s been a lot of collaboration with people. I’ve had support – I definitely didn’t do it all myself,” she said.

 Workers from Tacoma’s Planned Parenthood, along with a fellow student from VOX – a UWT student organization dedicated to reproductive health and rights education – helped Jewell get the ball rolling.

Jewell then commissioned a local artist friend to draw up a flyer, and got confirmation from Tacoma band The Fucking Eagles that they would play at her event.

“I lined most of the [other] bands up through MySpace. We drafted a letter that we sent out to what must have been every local Tacoma band. We got a lot of, ‘Sorry, can’t do it.’ I thought that was kind of shitty, but we were eventually able to book an awesome lineup,” Jewell said.

Some of the other bands playing Fight Fistula include Paris Spleen, And Those Who Were Dragged, Gold Teeth and The Drug Purse. Tickets are $7, with proceeds being donated to ONEbyONE, an organization working in the fight against fistula. The Fucking Eagles will also donate all money raised from CD sales that night to the cause.

For more information, go to www.myspace.com/endfistula. The event will run from 2 – 10 p.m.

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