Welcome to my Cross for LifeFlight Fundraising Page!
Between August 1 and August 31, I am fundraising for LifeFlight of Maine during the organization's "Crossing" event, which is a challenge that symbolizes the difficulties of providing lifesaving emergency medical care to Maine's many island and rural communities. The Crossing used to be a swim between Lincolnville and Islesboro (not me, I am not that good of a swimmer!), but since the pandemic has shifted into a more "do your own sport through the month of August" kind of event. It's still the biggest, most important fundraiser of the year for this incredible non-profit.
If you've known our family for a while, you might know that our son was flown by LifeFlight as a 9 day old. It was an extremely challenging time in my life, having just given birth to my first child, in a way which was traumatic for me, followed by a week of days or nights that all blurred into one as there was almost no sleep, culminating in several more sleepless nights in a hospital in Portland where he was flown. It's hard to express the gratitude I feel for an organization like LifeFlight of Maine, that it exists and is so helpful to so many. I used to fundraise as an individual, but now I do it as part of the "Grateful Patient" team! You truly never know when you might need them, except I think it's safe to say that because of the rural nature of where we live, and the kinds of medical services that are mostly unavailable in our local regional hospitals, either you or someone you know is very highly likely to need LifeFlight in the future.
The boy who lost 2 of his 9 lbs in the first few days of his life is now 13 years old and 5'11" yesterday measured at his annual. Above photo is from last year when we joined LifeFlight in a Casco Bay paddle. And here's his cutie pie self a few years ago, just because I love this photo : )
I have been fundraising for LifeFlight's annual fundraiser for many years and those of you who have been with me and supported me - much gratitude to you! If you are here for the first time, I hope you'll consider supporting this non-profit, the only non-profit medical aviation transport organization (they are usually for profit in other states), and the only organization like this in our whole state. You would be supporting me, supporting our community and perhaps someone you know and their future. It's truly a critical service.
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LifeFlight of Maine is a nonprofit organization and the state’s only emergency medical helicopter service. With three helicopters, an airplane and ground ambulances, LifeFlight brings ICU-level care directly to the patient. As Maine’s only air ambulance service, LifeFlight has served more than 38,000 patients, one life at a time, from every community and hospital in the state. LifeFlight plays a critical role in the “chain of survival” by connecting people to the care they need. People who live in Maine and people who visit Maine—including me—depend on LifeFlight to be there for them. I’m comforted to know that they’ll be there for me, and for my friends and family, should the unthinkable happen.
