Lights of Life campaign to support cancer care underway

    PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — This holiday season, County residents will once again have the opportunity to support cancer care locally while celebrating, honoring or remembering those they love. TAMC and Clukey’s Auto Supply are again joining forces for the Lights of Life project.
“This marks the seventh year that we are holding our Lights of Life event to raise awareness and support for area cancer services, ultimately benefiting our friends, neighbors and loved ones who are battling this disease,” said Jason Parent, TAMC’s director of advancement. “This also marks the second year we are partnering with Clukey’s Auto Supply, allowing us to bring this project beyond Presque Isle to Caribou and Houlton. We will be bringing the project into Fort Fairfield, as well, this year as we honor JR McGillan, an individual who gave so much of his time and heart to this community.
Fred “JR” McGillan Jr. lost his battle with cancer in July. A respected and successful contractor, McGillan was the owner of McGillan, Inc. in Fort Fairfield. He was involved in many civic organizations and always thought of others before himself. McGillan was instrumental in the Fort Fairfield swimming pool and gazebo projects, where he generously gave both his time and equipment. He was a member of the Fort Fairfield Lions Club, the Fort Fairfield Snowmobile Club and the Fort Fairfield Knights of Columbus. McGillan also served on the Fort Fairfield Utilities District board of directors, the Fort Fairfield Zoning Board, and the St. Denis Catholic Church finance committee. He and McGillan Inc. were honored in 2007 as the Fort Fairfield Business of the Year; in addition, McGillan was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International.
“When we found out JR’s cancer had come back, we initially began treatment in Boston, but we later found we could get the same treatment here at TAMC. What a difference! We no longer felt like a number, and we could be at home. The team at Aroostook Cancer Care was wonderful. We felt like family,” said McGillan’s wife, Janet. “I am very grateful for the care and services we received from Aroostook Cancer Care, and I want to help ensure that other local families battling this disease can get the same compassionate care that JR received, along with the comfort of being treated close to home.”
Through Lights of Life, individuals can purchase lights to remember those who have lost their lives to cancer or honor survivors, family and friends of survivors, caregivers and others. Lights may be purchased anytime now through Dec. 31 in person at a Clukey’s Auto Supply location in Presque Isle, Caribou or Houlton, at McGillan’s in Fort Fairfield, or online at www.tamc.org. The names of those being honored or remembered will be displayed at Clukey’s Auto Supply locations, at Acadia Medical Supply in Fort Fairfield and on the TAMC website.
Lights are being sold for: white, $10; red, $25; yellow, $50; green, $75; blue, $100; and orange, $150. Donations will benefit TAMC’s Aroostook Cancer Care. Proceeds from this year’s efforts will support the purchase and installation of a new linear accelerator at TAMC, which will provide life-saving radiation therapy to cancer patients across The County.
Clukey’s Auto Supply became a partner in this project last year, when the project was dedicated to Tom Clukey’s memory. His wife, Gail, not only wanted to show appreciation for the care he received at Aroostook Cancer Care and to help others have access to that care, but she also wanted a way to honor her husband’s feelings during the holiday season.
“Tom was very appreciative of our customers and really wanted to give back during this time of year. He always did a commercial this time of year, not to promote the business, but to thank people,” said Gail. “He loved this community and really put his heart into service through the Shriners and other organizations to benefit others. What better way to honor him than to do the same.”
The Lights of Life tree, which will be located outside of Clukey’s Auto Supply on Main Street in Presque Isle, will be lit during a brief ceremony during the annual Holiday Lights Parade Saturday, Dec. 6. In addition to the ceremony, community members are invited to stop by TAMC’s North Street Health Center immediately following the end of the parade for a hot drink, to get warm and to purchase a light if they like. This year’s parade is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. from the University of Maine at Presque Isle and end at North Street.
In memory of McGillan, TAMC will also be partnering with the town of Fort Fairfield, the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce and the Fort Fairfield Housing Authority to take part in that community’s annual tree lighting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7.
For more details on the Lights of Life or to purchase a light, visit www.tamc.org or contact the TAMC Communications and Development office at 768-4858.