Knights of Columbus Raising Funds for St. Michael Man

The Knights of Columbus in St. Michael-Albertville will be hosting a spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 4 to 8 p.m. this Sunday, July 27 at the St. Albert’s Parish Center for their brother in arms, Ivan Weber, a man who has been confined to his motorized wheelchair as he battles a degenerative muscle/nervous system disease.

North Wright County Today readers will remember Ivan from earlier this summer, as he entered a national contest in an attempt to win one of several new vans equipped to handle those who are handicapped. While Weber received the most votes of any person from Minnesota entered in the contest he didn’t win the ultimate prize.

You can read more about Ivan and his struggles with mobility here. 

This summer, Ivan has also visited the Mayo Clinic in Rochester to get further explaniation about his illness. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a toddler, doctors began to think the illness was something else once Ivan began to lose the usage of his legs. 

Now, Ivan states, he’s been diagnosed with a form of spastic paraplegia. After moving his records from Gillette Children’s Hospital to Mayo, the case is moving ahead.

“It’s not good news,” Weber states. “We were told that some day in the future, I will not be able to move my legs at all. We will try some things to slow the progression down.” 

The diagnosis brought the KofC into action, as they’ll try to do what the contest couldn’t, which is raise enough money for Ivan to purchase a new van on his own. The Knights will be accepting a free will donation for Sunday’s dinner, with all the proceeds headed to Ivan and his “wheels.”

Those who aren’t able to attend the fundraiser can donate to Ivan’s cause through the Knights of Columbus. Just mail a check made out to the Knights to 10461 Karston Circle, Albertville, MN 55301.