Dec. 2, 2008 — Diamond Mountain Casino will hold a fundraiser spaghetti dinner for a young cancer patient from 5 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 8. Proceeds from the dinner will benefit the family of Brittany McCalmon, 9, who suffers from medulloblastoma, a very aggressive form of childhood cancer.

According to the Children’s Hospital Boston Web site, “Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant central nervous system tumor of childhood. It accounts for 15-20 percent of pediatric brain tumors. These tumors are located in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance and other complex motor functions.”

Brittany’s father, Jack McCalmon, a federal correctional officer in Herlong, has been living with every parent’s worst nightmare for the past several months. His daughter has undergone multiple surgeries to remove the nectarine-sized tumor. She also has received radiation and chemotherapy at a St. Judes affiliated hospital.

Doctors are concerned because the tumor has begun to grow back and is now the size of a large jellybean.

The family has struggled with the travel and medical expenses over the past few months, and they have lost both their home and their vehicle.

Jack has used all his vacation and sick leave hours, and now has to leave Brittany with a babysitter so he can go back to work to support them.

The money raised at the spaghetti dinner will help Jack afford to stay at home and spend more time with his daughter over the next few months.

Kim Baxley, a server at the casino who’s organized a variety of community fundraisers over the past couple of years for cancer sufferers, said Brittany is a real fighter who has every intention of getting her health back so she can return to bicycle riding and school next year.

The Grant A Wish Foundation is arranging a trip to Orlando, Fla. for Brittany.

“We’re looking forward to seeing all of the members in our local and surrounding communities come together to help Jack and Brittany with both monetary donations and prayers in this time of need,” Baxley said. “Jack and Brittany want to give everyone a heartfelt thank you for all the love and support that have been shown to them recently. While they are going thorough all these difficulties, it helps knowing they are not going through it alone.”

More than 40 local businesses have donated items to be auctioned, and the spaghetti dinner costs $5 per plate.

For more information, call the Diamond Mountain Casino at 252-1100.