A founder of Wellington's burlesque scene is fighting for her life in a Texas hospital.

Eva Wolfe, known on stage as Eva Strangelove, has been struck down by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacteria that causes serious infection and can be deadly.

She has spent more than two weeks in intensive care at a hospital in Austin, where she has no medical insurance and the bills are racking up daily. Now friends and family have joined forces to try to raise $20,000 for her on the charity website Give Forward.

Wolfe, 31, made her break in 2007 when three-piece burlesque dance troupe Sisters of Strangelove debuted to a sellout crowd at the Mighty Mighty Bar in Cuba St.

Fellow "Sister" Courtney L'amor is the brains behind a variety burlesque concert to raise funds for her friend's medical costs. She said Wolfe was a longtime friend who helped her "through a tough time . . . it's the least I could do".

A venue is still to be found for the show, but L'amor is aiming for a date in March or April.

She and the third "Sister", Flo Foxworthy, are teaming up with a mutual friend to perform one of their original dances, choreographed by Wolfe, at the show.

Foxworthy is helping with a website for people to auction off items to raise funds. Artist Denis Hall is auctioning a drawing he did of the dancer and model a few years ago. "A lot of people are glamorous but Eva is so personable and likeable as well," he said.

Wolfe's husband, American musician Dave Wolfe, said on Facebook that Eva "is still hooked up to machines that feed her and help her breathe".

POTENTIALLY LETHAL

What is Streptococcus pneumoniae? A bacteria that triggers infection in various parts of the body. This leads to illnesses ranging from ear infections to pneumonia and life-threatening infections, such as meningitis. Sinusitis: infection of sinuses Otitis media: middle-ear infection Bacteraemia: bacteria invade the blood Septic arthritis: joint infection Osteomyelitis: bone infection Pneumonia: lung inflammation Meningitis: inflammation of brain and spinal cord membranes

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