Sidewalk sale to benefit 10-year-old Glenville boy with rare disease

His family says Sam sees every day as “the best day ever.”

GREENWICH — A sidewalk sale this weekend will benefit a Glenville family with a young son who is coping with a terminal brain disease.

The motto of the Buck family is “Best Day Ever,” and that saying will be emblazoned on hats for sale at the event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the VW Contemporary art gallery at 353 Greenwich Ave. In addition, handmade winter hats, ear muffs and wristbands will be on sale.

Sam Buck is a vivacious and freespirited 10-year-old despite his genetic ailment, according to his family, and he attends Glenville School. His family says Sam sees every day as “the best day ever.”

He was diagnosed at age 2 with Vanishing White Matter Disease, an extremely rare brain disease that results in mobility problems and developmental disabilities. The Buck family has started a nonprofit foundation, the Vanishing White Matter Families Foundation, to raise research funds and help other families with a member dealing with the fatal ailment.

All proceeds from the clothing sale Saturday will benefit the VWM Families Foundation.

The Glenville community in particular and the Greenwich community at large has rallied behind the Buck family, with outreach, support and fundraisers over the years.

An organizer of the event, Deirdre Burke, who was once Sam’s physical education teacher, said she was moved by the family’s warmth and determination.

“Sam and his family make such a long lasting impact on everyone they meet. As Sam’s former P.E. teacher, I witnessed Sam teach his classmates the definition of hard work, determination, optimism and strength,” she said. “Sam has done so much for everyone around him and the Best Day Ever hat project is a simple way to thank Sam and his family for being a pillar of love, positivity and strength in our community.”

According to Allyson Buck, who has kept an online journal at samvsvwm.wordpress.com/ recounting her son’s and family’s experiences, “We are so fortunate for the daily reminder to enjoy every moment, especially when it feels like the world is falling apart. Only one thing is certain, every day we are all together as a family, every day we get with Sam is ‘fun, fun, fun’.”

She is also known in her neighborhood for making special vehicles for her son for Halloween, and her homemade creations have enlivened the fall season in Glenville for years.