Shortly after he turned 3, Damien Chiasson-Larson got diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Now 6 years old, Damien has survived two brain surgeries, 30 doses of radiation, four rounds of chemotherapy, and endless hours of therapy. But what he really wanted to do was be a zoo keeper for a day. In stepped Harry Mamizuka and Tom Bertolino (to the left and right, respectively, in the photo with young Damien), the owners of NorCal Kenworth.
Long-time supporters of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Sacramento, CA-based dealership arranged for Damien to be primary keeper for the snow leopard at the Micke Grove Zoo for a day. They also promised that at some time in the future, they would let him “drive some of those big trucks” he admired when he attended the company’s annual picnic. “It’s tough to see what these kids must go through,” Bertolino told Fleet Owner. “That’s why it’s great we can grant a kid like Damien his wish. It’s a great cause.”
