Daily Republic, Fairfield-Suisun City, CA
By Yasmin Assemi
Copyright Daily Republic. All rights reserved.

DIXON, CA -- Friends and family of Benny Ruiz Jr. have done everything they can to help since the father of five was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease last April. But financially, the family is struggling. To make ends meet, they're hosting a spaghetti dinner fundraiser this Saturday.

"It's just things to cover everyday living," said family friend Cathy Conway. "We're just trying to help him out." Conway and Benny Ruiz's brother, Jeff Ruiz, are organizing the fundraiser.

Benny Ruiz Jr., a former concrete finisher for Leber Concrete, has state insurance, but it's not enough to pay for all the medications and vitamin supplements he needs, Conway said. He receives $1,500 a month in social security and state disability benefits, but after May, he'll no longer be eligible for state disability, leaving him and his five children with less than $1,000 per month to live on - not even enough to pay their $1,150 monthly rent on their duplex.

Benny Ruiz Jr. was an avid softball player all his life, and until his diagnosis played on Vacaville and Dixon teams for many years. While playing last spring, his glove kept falling off. A month later, he was diagnosed.

"That was like his number one. He loved to play softball," said Rebeca Ruiz. She went on home study this year to take care of her father full-time, but plans to go to college some day.

Family and friends have been very supportive, visiting and helping out when they can. Benny Ruiz Jr.'s children range in age from 14 to 20. The children's mother, Benny's first wife, remains in contact. Benny and his second wife were married last May, a month after the diagnosis. Six months later, they separated.

Through it all, Benny Ruiz Jr. remains optimistic.

"A cheerful heart is good medicine," Benny Ruiz Jr. said.

Lou Gehrig's Disease is the commonly used term for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neuromuscular disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness. Named after the famous New York Yankees baseball player, 50 percent of ALS patients die within 18 months after diagnosis, according to www.lougehrigsdisease.net.

All proceeds will go to a trust account set up for daily expenses. Donations can be made at any First Northern Bank.

The fundraiser will run from 5-8:30 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 21 at American Legion Hall, 231 N. First St., Dixon. Tickets are $12, and include dinner and one soft drink. Sacramento Kings Gerald Wallace's autographed jersey will be auctioned off, along with New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza's autographed warm-up bat.

For more information, call Jeff Ruiz at 678-1407 or Cathy Conway at (916) 716-7959.