Kirsten Stauder is a fighter and has been battling leukemia for three years. Now a fourth grader at Holy Family School in Hicksville, Kirsten underwent her third bone marrow transplant this week thanks to a donation from her 6-month-old baby brother Kevin. As a result, she will be recuperating in isolation in Schneider Children's Hospital in Manhasset for the next eight weeks with her parents, Tim and Linda, by her side.

In a fund-raising effort, friends of Holy Family organized this Concert for Cause, which will take place on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the gymnasium of the Holy Family School. To honor Kirsten's courage and to support the Stauder family, Big Shot, a Billy Joel tribute band featuring Richie Cannata, saxophonist for the Billy Joel Band from 1975 to 1981, will perform. Tickets are $30 per person and all proceeds will go the Stauder family.

"The Holy Family community wanted to give something back to the family during this time," said Anne Louise Bono of Hicksville. Bono, a huge Billy Joel fan, came up with the idea with other parents of Holy Family students after seeing Big Shot perform. "We thank Big Shot for doing this benefit concert and bringing some hope to the Stauder family."

Michael DelGuidice, pianist/lead singer for Big Shot, said, "We all have kids and couldn't even imagine what Kirsten and the Stauder family is going through. If our performance can help them at all, it's the least we could do. Our prayers are with Kirsten and we'll monitor her prognosis."

Hicksville resident Lisa Chiesa, president of Holy Family Parents' Association that serves as a fund-raising group, said, "Kirsten is really the Holy Family community's little girl. We felt we needed to help in any way we could and reach out to the Stauders."

Nine-year-old Kirsten loves pink, gymnastics, dancing, playing softball and is a Mets fan. She has three brothers, 14-year-old Timmy who attends Kellenberg High School in Uniondale, and 6-month old twins Kevin and Tyler.

After first being first diagnosed with leukemia three years ago, the Holy Family community held a donor drive to find a match for Kirsten's first two bone marrow transplants. There have been other fundraisers in Kirsten's honor such as last week's "Cupcakes for Kirsten" bake sale where kindergartners through eighth grade students helped to raise $1,000. The entire school and community, including friends Jimmy Morris, Amanda Napolitano, Anthony Mascia and James Taglienti, wish her well.

The Concert for a Cause will feature live entertainment, Big Shot as well as a 50/50 raffle and other prizes. Tickets are $30 per person and advanced tickets are available by calling 987-1554 or 987-1556; tickets will not be sold at the door. Donations of any amount will be accepted from those who are unable to attend the Nov. 5 concert. For further information, visit the Holy Family School website at www.hfsli.org or the calendar section of Big Shots website at www.BigShotTributeBand.com.

Big Shot, heralded as an uncanny resemblance to Billy Joel's music, is fronted by renowned vocalist/pianist Michael DelGuidice, and features, on drums Sal DeVito, brother of the famous Liberty DeVito drummer for Billy Joel himself; bassist Nick Dimichino, from the famous rock/pop group Nine Days who hit the scene in May of 2000 with their smash hit Absolutely (Story of a Girl); and keyboardist Mark Alexander, who has worked with a diverse range of artists including Joe Cocker, Meat Loaf, Enrique Iglesias, Tom Jones and The E Street Band.

Other members of the band include guitarist Kenny Cino, who founded top Long Island band Kid Gloves, and saxophonist Brian Forte, who has performed with some of the best jazz musicians of our time. At times they're joined on stage by some of Billy Joel's band members including saxophonists Liberty DeVito, Mark Rivera, Tommy Byrnes and Richie Cannata as well as John Scarpulla from the Tony Award Winning Billy Joel musical Movin' Out.

Performing any and all of Joel's greatest hits, Big Shot presents many obscure album classics to tantalize the die-hard fans, and offers some new surprises every night out. Big Shot has the approval and endorsement of Billy Joel, who invited the tribute group to perform a song on stage during sound check at the Nassau Coliseum on his final concert in October 2002.

Big Shot has upcoming concerts scheduled at Mulcahy's, Napper Tanndy's and the Nutty Irishman. Call (203) 265-0010 or visit www.BigShotTributeBand.com for dates and times.