Nadine “Cha Cha” Alves was a firecracker who loved the color red.

Her son, Dominick Alves, had the idea to throw a dance in her honor at her birthday party. Nadine was suffering from multiple sclerosis, and he wanted to celebrate her and raise money to help support her. He planned the event for Dec. 14 at the Onset VFW, and family members from across the East Coast planned to attend, dressed in formalwear and, hopefully, in the color red.

Nadine Alves passed away in October, and Dominick considered canceling the event. But, thinking about his mother, he knew what she would say: “You think just because I died, the party’s done?”

“She loved gold and red, loved reggae, loved dancing, loved having fun,” Dominick said. 

He went ahead with the plans, and decided to put the proceeds toward her headstone.

“I just want to make sure my mother’s name never gets forgotten,” Dominick said. “She was a kind-hearted, great woman — strong. She didn’t play games, and took care of everything she had to do.”

The event brought people together in her memory, including one of Dominick’s middle school teachers and a childhood friend of Nadine’s who had last seen her more than 20 years ago.

Dominick had printed out paper flyers and hung them in businesses across Wareham in an attempt to reach people, like many of his mother’s friends, who might not be active on social media.

The event was a family affair, featuring catering by Nadine’s niece Renee Jones, and many local businesses pitched in, donating prizes to a raffle. Dominick’s six-year-old daughter, Janyea-Marie Alves, helped greet everyone as they arrived (but left before her bedtime).

Dominick said he hopes this weekend’s event could be the first of many for what he’s calling the #WarOnMS, a non-profit he hopes to start to educate people about multiple sclerosis.

“When my mother first had MS, I didn’t know a lick about it,” Dominick said. “I didn’t know how to say the word.”

He spent a great deal of time researching the condition, including while he was incarcerated — his conviction was recently overturned by the Massachusetts Court of Appeals. During that time, he also became involved in outreach programs and became passionate about sharing “guidance, knowledge, a hug, love:” whatever people need.

Dominick plans to continue that work through #WarOnMS, and hopes to kick it off with a summer basketball tournament.

“I can’t wait for the next one,” he said.