After a decade, woman's kindness continues to inspire
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

Although she died 10 years ago, Dina LaVigna continues to inspire.

More than 900 athletes from across the country will descend on San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura on June 24 to swim, bike and run in her name. The triathletes will raise money and awareness of primary immunodeficiency, the disease that caused LaVigna's death in 1997.

People with the disease have an immune system that does not function properly and are prone to catching chronic and often severe illnesses.

While other children caught colds, Dina developed pneumonia.

LaVigna's parents, Brenda and Gary LaVigna of Camarillo, her three brothers and one sister, their families and about 200 other volunteers have spent countless hours planning and organizing the event that has grown from two to nearly 1,000 participants.

Brenda LaVigna said the triathlon would not be possible if it weren't for the hard work of the volunteers. Their hard work for a cause that was so dear to LaVigna inspires her and warms her heart, she said.

"She was really one of a kind," Brenda said of her daughter. "She lived in those 33 years more than some people live in a lifetime."

Todd Webb went to Camarillo High with LaVigna and her siblings. A restaurant manager in Ventura, Webb said he makes time- about 200 hours over the year- to help coordinate the logistics for the event, because it's such a good cause.

"Anybody that knew Dina couldn't wait to help because that's just the kind of person she was," Webb said.

Oak Park resident Monica Spiro said LaVigna was always upbeat, even though she was often very ill.

"When you were down she tried to pick you up," Spiro said. "That's what was so special about Dina; she never complained . . . she always looked to see how she could help others. That's a very big human being."

The money raised through the triathlon will go to brighten up the room where patients suffering from the immune disease that took LaVigna's life stay for hours on end while receiving treatment.

LaVigna was pained to see fellow patients, especially young children, sit in the sterile environment with no space for their family.

It was her wish to make the room more comfortable and homelike.

The year after her death, Grant LaVigna, Dina's youngest brother, Monica Spiro and her husband, Mark, started the triathlon as a way to fulfill Dina's dream. Mark and Grant were the only participants; Monica helped with fundraising and other support efforts.

They raised $15,000 that year for the Jeffrey Modell Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to find a cure for the disease and offer support to patients and their families.

The foundation is the parent nonprofit for the Dina LaVigna Breath of Life Fund, established by her husband, Jeff Schmitt, now a Camarillo resident, to carry out her wish for a family and child friendly treatment area.

After all permits and other expenses are paid, 100 percent of the proceeds go into LaVigna's fund, Grant said.

Last year the triathlon raised $180,000.

Mount Sinai Hospital in New York is the first facility to have a Dina Room.

Instead of overcrowded, cold quarters, the space has a warm shade of paint on the walls, reclining chairs, TVs, computers, toys, arts and crafts and twice the amount of space as before.

The LaVigna family has pledged $750,000 from the fund to build a Dina Room at Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA. They expect the room to be completed later this year.

"It's a passion that we all believe in and something that we want to carry on in our sister's memory and something we enjoy doing," said Grant, a marriage and family therapist in Los Angeles.

"It's just really touching that people have acted and responded this way. I think that speaks volumes of who my sister was . . .

"I'm very honored to be one of the founders of something like this."

Although this year's triathlon is sold out, volunteers are always needed, Grant said.

To sign up, call Grant LaVigna at (310) 614-1812 or visit the website www.triforlife.com.