When a medical emergency suddenly struck a Fountain Hills Middle School family earlier this year, the Falcon flock and local community responded by coming together to help support one of their own in need.

On Jan. 30, FHMS student Rocco Pelano collapsed suddenly during his P.E. class while running on the track.

Pelano had gone into cardiac arrest and, thanks to the immediate CPR he received from his teacher, Pelano survived until paramedics arrived on the scene.

In the weeks since, Pelano has undergone a myriad of medical tests including a Cardiac MRI and a Cardio Stress Test.

Through these tests doctors have determined that Pelano will need to have surgery for an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator.

On top of the unimaginable stress and anxiety that accompanies medical emergencies, the Pelano family also has to deal with the finical stains that are a part of such emergencies.

That is where the Fountain Hills community stepped up.

On Feb. 4, Tammy Davies created a Gofundme campaign to support Pelano and his family. As of this writing, the online campaign has raised over $5,000 for the family.

Others in the community, like Carla Owers, banded together to organize a rummage sale at Harvest Bible Chapel to raise money.

The idea for the sale originated when Owers’ eldest daughter, a friend of Pelano’s, talked about wanting to do something to help her friend.

The two came up with the idea of a sale and found plenty of people who wanted to help.

“We have a lot of businesses in town that helped us,” Owers said. “Starbucks let us put out flyers and a donation box. U-Haul helped us with storage and Senior Taco also provided us with food.”

And of course Pelano’s peers helped out, making signs to promote the sale as well as helping set up the massive sprawl of items for rummagers to pick through.

For the Pelanos, the support of the community has meant the world.

“Our Family would again like to express many thanks to everybody who has followed Rocco’s progress and has been so supportive both emotionally and financially,” the Pelanos wrote on the Gofundme page. “It has made such a big difference to know you are not isolated and alone.”