Butler native Dan Manning, 52, knows his four children turned out well and that he lives in a special town.

But when he was blind-sided this summer by a leukemia diagnosis, the most shocking aspect of the ordeal was how his family, friends and strangers showed up to take away the everyday worries of life so he could concentrate on his grueling treatment.

A bowling fundraiser in October raised almost $7,000 for Manning, who has not had a paycheck since June because of his diagnosis.

Manning's wife is disabled and receives just $300 per month.

Manning's four grown children and their families are now organizing Swirling out Leukemia, a spaghetti dinner fundraiser to be held starting at 3 p.m. Nov. 17 at the South Butler Fire Hall on Old Plank Road.

Proceeds will go toward paying the Mannings' bills, food, medical procedures and fees, hospital parking and other expenses.

“It's just overwhelming, the people who come out and don't even know you,” Manning said Wednesday. “It's really humbling.”

The Class of 1985 Butler High School graduate said his hometown is an unusual place, where citizens attend endless fundraisers of all types to support people they might not even know.

“There are constant fundraisers everywhere, and every time I go to one, they're always packed,” Manning said. “The people of Butler, we stick together.”

Manning, who worked as a construction supervisor for Gaven Industries in Saxonburg before his diagnosis and subsequent treatment, said he went to the doctor for a urinary tract infection and his blood work results showed a dangerously low hemoglobin level.

He received two blood transfusions before a bone marrow biopsy revealed chronic myelomonocytic leukemia 2.

“It's harder on my family than it is on me,” Manning said. “It's hard to watch my family go through what I'm going through.”

But Manning received good news Wednesday.

“My bone marrow transplant is going to be on Dec. 13 at UPMC Shadyside,” he said. “After that, I just have to survive.”

He said the identity of the bone marrow donor is kept secret from Manning for one year if the donor is from the United States and two years if outside the U.S.

Manning will undergo several more tests, including yet another bone marrow biopsy, before the surgery.

His youngest daughter, Leigh Fry, said she hopes Swirling Out Leukemia will be even bigger than the Strike Out Leukemia bowling fundraiser.

“We had a tremendous turnout for that,” Fry said. “Some people didn't even bowl, they just came to support us. It was amazing.”

She said her father has been an avid bowler in Butler for the majority of his life, and the bowling community really came out to support a fellow athlete.

In addition to raising money for her dad, Fry and her siblings found comfort and peace among those who turned out at Striking Out Leukemia.

“People were pouring in, hugging us, saying, 'If you need us, we're here,'” Fry recalled.

She said her mother, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and extended family members will be at the spaghetti dinner to help out.

“The tremendous amount of love that we have gotten and the support from everyone is so overwhelming,” Fry said. “I'm tearing up just talking about it.”

She said cmml-2 is a rare form of leukemia that normally hits older adults.

Fry said her dad is now in remission after two rounds of chemotherapy, but he will need a few more chemo treatments before the transplant surgery.

“He's been great,” Fry said of her father. “He doesn't like to talk about his feelings, but he's fighting and keeping in good spirits.”

In addition to the dinner, several raffle baskets will be available for bidding. One is a Pittsburgh Penguins basket donated by Manning's employer, Gaven Industries.

Anyone willing to donate items for the spaghetti dinner can email Fry at leighfry91@yahoo.com. Those items include disposable plates, bowls and utensils, napkins, spaghetti, sauce, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper packs, drinks, cups, dinner rolls, butter, baked goods and more.