Aiding Aiden Fundraiser to Help Bayville Boy With Terminal Disease

A fundraiser will be held at the Forked River Firehouse on Saturday, June 9 to benefit a 10-year-old Bayville boy who suffers from a terminal illness.

Four years ago, Aiden, son of Jackson teacher Tracy Boudreau, was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

The disease, which involves progressive muscle weakness, is transitioning into its next phase. Aiden is expected to be confined to a wheelchair within the next three months.

“He’ll continue to deteriorate. His muscles get tired,” said Aiden’s grandfather and longtime Lacey resident Joseph Boudreau. Aiden’s grandmother Shirley Boudreau is the former Lacey Township Assistant Superintendent.

Aiden has gained 20 pounds because he’s unable to exercise, Boudreau said. Sometimes, he can be standing for a minute or two and then he just falls. He needs help standing and can’t walk long distances.

“He has a good sense of humor most of the time,” he said. “He gets very frustrated though. He wants to be out playing with his friends.”

Since Aiden can’t participate everyday outdoor activities, he’s an avid computer user, Boudreau said. He plays games and does research on topics such as World War II, which he then is able to have full discussions on.

The Boudreau family continues to search for any clinical trials but there is no cure for the disease, which occurs in about one in every 3,600 male infants.

All proceeds from the “Aiding Aiden Fundraiser” will go towards retrofitting Aiden’s Bayville entire home for handicap accommodations.

The family needs to install a handicap bathroom with a whirlpool, a wheel in shower, handicap sinks, lifts to take Aiden out of his wheelchair and into the whirlpool or bed, a computer station, ramps and more, Boudreau said. The hallways also need to be expanded.

“Everybody rallies around Aiden and tries to help out in any way,” Boudreau said.

The Jackson, Berkeley and Lacey school districts have been actively helping. Restaurants and businesses have made donations for the fundraiser as well as the house. The township of Berkeley passed a resolution pardoning the family from paying for building permits. The Forked River Fire Company donated the space for the event and a motorized wheelchair has already been donated.

Jackson teacher Tim Osborn coordinated the fundraiser. He has worked with Aiden’s mother Tracy Boudreau for six years.

“I coach a football team so I have a little experience doing this,” Osborn said since the team raises money yearly. He encourages the team to participate in a community service project each year and many of the players know Tracy Boudreau as a teacher.

“They all really love her so they want to help,” he said. “(The Boudreau’s) were getting ready for construction. We ripped out all the sheetrock and insulation in the garage.” The garage is going to be converted into a bedroom with a bathroom.

“The list goes on and on. We’re just in awe of how people have come out and rallied around him,” Boudreau said. “We’re so humbled by the whole thing. Our family is so grateful for everything everyone is doing.”

The fundraiser on Saturday runs from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Forked River Firehouse. Admission is $40 per person and includes a buffet and beverages. There will be raffles for gift baskets and gift certificates as well as a DJ.

“We’re hoping a lot of people come out and everyone has a good time and raises money for Aiden,” Osborn said. “We really appreciate all the help and think it’s going to be a success.”