The Bethpage-Plainview Rotary was contacted to give assistance to Harvey Parry, a two-and-a-half year-old double amputee and his family from Northern England.

They arrived in New York on June 27 to have Harvey fitted with prosthetic legs at A Step Ahead Prosthetics & Orthotics in Hicksville. The family is staying at the Marriott Residence Inn-Plainview through August while Harvey completes his therapy.

At 15 months, Harvey contracted the potentially deadly virus meningitis meningococcal septicemia. As a result, Harvey had both legs amputated above the knee and three fingers on his right hand.

The Parry family was unwilling to accept the policy of the National Health Service of England, which was to wait until Harvey was 5 years old to receive full-length legs with knees and feet. After more than a year of efforts to raise funds to purchase Harvey's prosthetics outside the NHS of England, his parents, Carol and Jonathan, decided that they needed to come to the United States for Harvey to be fitted with legs that would allow him to develop normally as a healthy child.

Thanks to generous donations from many individuals in the UK, as well as the Rotary clubs in England and of Bethpage-Plainview and Hicksville-Jericho, the Parrys were able to make the trip to the United States so that Harvey could receive his artificial legs. He got them on June 30, and took his first steps by July 3.

More information about Harvey's amazing story, including photos and videos, can be found at www.harveyparry-appealfund.com.

The Parrys are finding costs to be a bit more than they anticipated. Both the Bethpage-Plainview and Hicksville-Jericho Rotary clubs are reaching out to their local communities/clubs to try and reduce or supplement some of their living expenses while here. Those in the Plainview, Old Bethpage and Bethpage area who would like to donate, can go to Harvey's website harveyparry-appealfund.com or contact George Hannau of the Bethpage-Plainview Rotary Club at 681-7960.

Checks made out to the Bethpage-Plainview Rotary Club, or gift certificates (restaurants, movies, etc.) can be mailed to the Rotary Club at PO Box 301, Bethpage, NY 11714.