In the spring of 2014, the North Haven Rotary Club met a bright and gregarious eight-year-old boy named Hunter Pageau who isfighting a very rare disease called SMARD (spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress). He was accompanied by his parents, Sharon Agli-Pageau and her husband Adam Pageau. Since then, the service club has been assisting Pageau’s mother in her outreach efforts regarding her child’s physical disability.

Initially, Club President Debbie Volain invited the family to address the organization, and established a schedule for members to provide meals for the family. That spring, the board of directors approved setting aside $2,500 toward the purchase of a special bed for Pageau, and soon after, an additional $1,250 was appropriated. At his installation in June, President Nick D’Ambrosia pledged to continue the effort. Past President Theresa Ranciato-Viele stepped forward to serve as a liaison to the family. She then enlisted help from her husband John Viele, who was joined by past president Guy Casella and their friends Bob Buick, Gordon Murphy, Sid Zuckerburg, and Joe Carter. In memory of the Veiles’ son Jack, who had died from childhood cancer, the men decided to assist this family that they had never met and rebuilt Pageau’s ramp at home, as well as his younger brother Cole’s playscape, on a cold and rainy day last November.

Impressed by the two young boys, and touched by their circumstances, Zuckerberg took the initiative to raise $2,900 toward the purchase of the special bed for Pageau. The $9,500 bed assists in sitting up for meals and enhances mobility.

Recently at the Fantasia Banquet Facility, the local Rotary Club held its first annual Community Recognition Dinner, the brainchild of Dr. Richard Bassett, the 2015-’16 president. Pageau addressed the audience to express his appreciation for their generosity, followed by remarks from First Selectman Michael Freda and praise for the club’s efforts from Agli-Pageau.

Other significant contributors credited by Ranciato-Viele in this venture included the Greater New Haven Rotaract Club, the Mark Anthony Casella Memorial Golf Tournament, the 34th Charitable Committee, Ken Kramer, Ken Schmidt, Sandy Carter, Ian Brooks, XAND Construction, Foley Pump, and Theresa Ranciato-Viele. A medical expense trust was established at Hunter Pageau Trust, People’s United Bank, 79 Washington Ave., North Haven, CT 06473.