Event raises more than $30,000 for Aroostook Cancer Care

  PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — After two very successful years raising over $20,000 and $25,000, respectively, for cancer and pediatric care in Aroostook County, organizers with TAMC and Townsquare Media’s Held on the Helipad are celebrating their new record one-year total of more than $30,000 raised.
The popular and fun event, formerly known as Rally on the Roof, was brought to the ground this year, but it appears support for this year’s cause certainly took off. A new location and great weather proved even more fun for “captives” with a pirate-themed island adventure staged on the helipad in front of TAMC’s A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital. A total of 53 people took part in the fundraiser and hundreds donated to support their efforts.
The 12-hour May 29 fundraiser was coordinated by TAMC and the three Townsquare Media radio stations in Aroostook County. Proceeds this year were designated to benefit TAMC’s Aroostook Cancer Care Services, specifically a new fund established to assist patients in need to ensure that barriers such as transportation costs do not get in the way of their receiving life-saving treatment.
“Once again the people of The County came through and showed that generous, caring spirit that makes this such a special place to live,” said Lisa Miles, general manager of Townsquare Media in Presque Isle. “Our radio stations are so pleased to partner with TAMC on this project to raise awareness and funds to support cancer care close to home. We certainly have found a successful way to put the ‘fun’ in fundraiser.”
As part of the fund-raising effort, community members were encouraged to have a “capture order” issued for someone they wanted to see join in the pirate island adventure. The pirate ships on wheels (Crown Ambulance and the colorful WOW Wagon) were dispatched to several central Aroostook communities to pick up the “scalawags” for their trip to “Crown Bay” where they were sentenced to time on nearby Helipad Pirate Island.
When the captured parties arrived at the TAMC’s Crown Emergency Care facility, adjacent to the hospital, they went before a special guest pirate captain to be sentenced to serve time on the island. While on the helipad, the captives raised their way back to the “mainland” by calling friends and family to work their way off.
The captured didn’t find it much of a hardship to be exiled to the island and raise their bail. Abundant sunshine and the warmest day of the season to date — coupled with island-themed décor and music — greeted them. During their stay, those serving time on the island were treated to tropical-themed refreshments.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better day,” said Jason Parent, TAMC director of advancement. “We were once again blessed by the support of the community for this great cause. And for the first time in three years, we were really blessed with ideal weather conditions. It is great to see folks rallying behind their neighbors and friends receiving cancer care in The County. So many people are affected by this horrible disease, and as a result of the support of the community, so many will benefit from the funds raised.”
TAMC provides both oncology and the only radiation therapy north of Bangor. Work is underway on bringing into one space both of these services at TAMC’s A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital.
Community members are encouraged to visit www.heldonthehelipad.com to make a donation toward the fundraiser. The site will remain live through the end of the month.
In addition to the fun and fundraising that took place on the helipad, Tim Hortons of Aroostook County supported the project through their “Smile Cookie” program. The Houlton, Presque Isle and Caribou locations sold the specially decorated cookies all week long with proceeds from the sweet treats benefiting the patient assistance fund at Aroostook Cancer Care.