By Christy Scott
The Alpine Sun

     ALPINE — A special fund raising event will be taking place this weekend, on Sunday, March 11, at the Alpine Community Center: A spaghetti dinner, in honor of local resident Larry Monette.

     Monette was diagnosed, three years ago, with a very rare auto-immune neuromuscular disease known as Inclusive Body Myositis (IBM). In an IBM patient, cells attack each other, with the result of this disease being severely debilitating. IBM is an aggressive disease, destroying the muscles in the body.
     So far, there is no cure for IBM, and no clinical studies to even investigate it, or a cure, being undertaken in the United States.
     There is hope for the Monette’s however, as they have the opportunity to go to Moscow, Russia to undergo an adult stem-cell procedure through an accredited medical facility. Unfortunately, the Monette’s will have to pay $30,000 to undergo the procedure.
     “We are excited about this opportunity, which could help stop the progression of Larry’s disease, and regenerate his cells, but the cost is too great for us,” said Christine Monette. “We are asking for the help of the community, to help us raise the money.”
     They hope to travel to Moscow for the treatment in April.
     The Sunday, March 11 dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. Tickets for adults are $25 and $10 for children ages three to 12. This will be an opportunity for residents to sit down for a meal, meet the Monette family and help a neighbor.
     For more information one may contact the community center at 445-7330.
     If you can not attend the spaghetti dinner, but wish to donate money to help the Monette’s, the family is receiving checks through an account at Alpine Washington Mutual. Checks can be sent to: The Monette Family, 1545 Miss Elle Way, Alpine, CA, 91901.

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