In the college sports vernacular, the “Big Dance” has come to mean the NCAA Tournament. And while the Muhlenberg women’s cross country team has as good a chance as it ever has to earn an NCAA bid – the Mules are ranked fifth in the Mideast Region – one of the team members has another “Big Dance” on her mind.

Senior Ashley Greenberg is one of the co-chairs of Dance for a Cure, a charity event scheduled for Friday, November 11, from 10 p.m. to midnight in the Seegers Union Event Space.

This is the third straight year Greenberg has been one of the committee chairs, and she is hoping to make her last year the best. This year the committee partnered with Colleges Against Cancer, an on-campus organization that helps run Relay for Life, to assist with promoting the event.

“We’re trying to make it a bigger deal,” said Greenberg, who estimates that the event raised a few thousand dollars the last two years. “In the past it was mostly a fraternity-sorority thing. This year we want to get more athletes and teams involved. The softball team has been helping with the planning.”

Money will be raised through a raffle (the big prize is a Kindle), admission tickets and donations. The proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society.

“I haven’t been directly affected by cancer, but some of my friends have so I’ve seen the impact on others,” said Greenberg. “I just really like to help people. It’s fun to see people show up for a good cause.”

To do so with a dance is a natural for Greenberg, a dance minor who has been dancing she was in second grade. She went to a performing arts middle school, where dance was a part of her day, and danced competitively in the Maccabi Games for two summers.

Dancing has taken its toll on Greenberg and made her unable to run for most of this season. But she still has enjoyed the incredible success of the Mules, who finished 25th at the regional race just two years ago.

“I’ve really been proud of our team and my teammates,” she said. “I can’t believe how driven each teammate has been, and how much hard work and effort have gone into the team.”

Just like the effort she is putting into Dance for a Cure. “We want to make an impact on Muhlenberg’s campus with this event,” she said. “We really want to make people want to do something good for others.”