Bowling event helps Belleville man seek treatment in China
News-Democrat

Friends and family of Lenny Gibbons Jr. are sponsoring a bowling/silent auction event Saturday in Belleville to raise money to send the 46-year-old to China for stem cell/bone marrow treatments.

Gibbons was diagnosed in November 2005 with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease. He was an electrician for Local 302 IBEW but quit in May 2006 when he began having problems speaking. His disease has progressed to where he no longer can swallow or chew and he is on a feeding tube.

"The whole disease renders you powerless and that was just one more loss of control over his life," said his mother, Mary Fischer of Belleville. "... The stem cells that they will use are umblical cord blood and not from fetuses and the bone marrow will be his own."

A graduate of Belleville West High School, as well as a father and new grandfather, Gibbons lives in Floraville with his wife, Angie. His father, Lenny Gibbons Sr., lives in Breese.

So far, $10,000 has been raised for the trip, which Fischer says will cost $40,000-$45,000.

The fund raiser will be held at Bel-Air Bowl (formerly Panorama Lanes), 200 South Belt West.

Scotch doubles bowling and a silent auction will be held from 6:30 to 10 p.m. There will also be 50/50 raffles and prizes. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased at the door. For reservations, call Angie Gibbons at 363-6565.

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