PRESQUE ISLE – On Sunday, Aug. 9, Cary Medical Center in Caribou became a “Champion of the Red Cross” by sponsoring the first annual Swim A Cross fund-raising event at the Presque Isle Indoor Pool. A total of $1,390 was raised to benefit the Pine Tree Chapter, beating the target of $1,000. A second even larger event is already being planned for the spring of 2010.
Contributed photoJoyce Knorr (center), Aroostook County Branch Manager of the American Red Cross-Pine Tree Chapter presents a Certificate of Appreciation to Kim Parent (right), Public Relations Generalist and Bill Flagg (left), Director of Public Relations & Development, for Cary Medical Center’s Champion support of this year’s first annual Swim-A-Cross fundraiser for local disaster relief.
Swim A Cross participants, including the Chapter’s Aroostook County Branch manager Joyce Knorr, collected pledges for each lap they swam. Everyone received T-shirts and door prizes. Top adult division fundraiser Hume Pierce received a Gary Fisher Tarpon Bike. Julia Dahlgren received a Way game console as the top youth fund raiser.
“The Chapter and its Aroostook County Branch thank the ‘Champion’ Cary Medical Center and these Swim A Cross sponsors for their generous support in promoting this event: Aroostook Centre Mall, the Presque Isle Indoor Pool, and Walmart,” said Knorr. “All Swim A Cross proceeds help provide local disaster relief assistance to Aroostook County individuals after a house fire or other personal emergency.”
The funds pay for shelter, food, clothing, medication and medical equipment replacement, infant supplies, and other materials necessary for immediate recovery. The funds are especially helpful because all Red Cross disaster services are provided at no cost to the victims by the generous donations of businesses and community members. Red Cross Chapters get no funds from either the national office of the American Red Cross or the federal, state or county governments.
For more information on how you, your business or organization can become a “Champion of the Red Cross,” e-mail sirotam@pinetree.redcross.org or call 493-4620, ext. 106.
