Remembering Zachary with Benefit Concert in Taunton

There is nothing more heartbreaking than parents losing a child, but that's what happened to Susan Ribeiro and Paul Cordeiro last year.

They lost their 10-year old son Zachary to a heart ailment in December, an issue he had lived with all of his life. The sadness and grief is overwhelming.

It's times like that when love and support from family and friends are most needed.  A friend of the family, Glen Nunes, is stepping up.

Nunes is a local musician and member of a nonprofit called Music Gives. He's organized a fundraising concert on Sunday, March 9 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the District Center for the Arts, 15 Court Street in Taunton.

Nunes visited Townsquare Sunday to promote the concert and tell us more about Zachary.

"Basically he was born with just half of his heart," Nunes said. "He had to undergo several major surgeries as very young child, but he was just a regular kid until the day he passed away. He was a class clown, a fun kid, always had a good story. He was great."

Nunes said he was planning the concert to help the family before Zachary passed.  After consultation with the family, they decided to continue with the concert in memory of Zachary and to raise money to offset the astronomical medical bills his parents still face.

The March 9 benefit concert, "Zachary's Heartbeat," will feature four local bands, including Bob's Day Off, a popular New Bedford-area band that performed here during the 90s and early 2000s. Nunes said they are reuniting just for this concert.

Other bands set to perform are In Lieu of Flowers, LIKK and Crankit Band, each bringing a unique sound to the stage.

Music Gives is a 501c3 non-profit organization.

"No one gets paid. All of the proceeds from tickets and a silent auction will go directly to the family," Nunes said.

Tickets for the benefit concert are available via Eventbrite. Donations are accepted and appreciated, and can be sent via cash, check or Venmo @MusicGives. Raffle items are appreciated as well. Call Nunes for more information at (508) 287-5111.

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