PRESQUE ISLE — Katahdin Trust Company has donated $25,000 to help upgrade the County Dialysis Center facility and equipment that allows patients from County hospitals to receive local care close to home.
“Katahdin Trust is honored to contribute to the County Dialysis Center. The service they offer is vital to the lives of those fighting kidney disease in Aroostook County,” said Peter St. John, executive vice president, commercial services of Katahdin Trust.
Founded in 1997, The Aroostook Medical Center’s County Dialysis Center (CDC) is the only kidney dialysis center in The County and the only not-for-profit center in the entire state of Maine. The center serves over 54 patients who need lifesaving kidney dialysis treatments three times each week, with each treatment lasting approximately four hours. More than 102,000 vital treatments have been given to patients since the center opened its doors.
The upgrades to both facilities and equipment are desperately needed.
Katahdin Trust has also partnered with the County Dialysis Center and has issued the “Katahdin Challenge” in an effort to encourage other businesses and organizations to join in and raise funds as well.
Without the Presque Isle center, the only other options would be traveling at least two to three hours south to either Lincoln or Bangor three times each week, moving to another area of the state with a dialysis center, or going without out the lifesaving treatments altogether.
“The bank has issued the ‘Katahdin Challenge’ to encourage other local businesses to join us in supporting the dialysis center and this critical lifesaving program,” said Krista Putnam, the institution’s vice president of marketing. “As part of our commitment to community, it is important that we work together to not only help keep the one and only dialysis center close to home so patients can continue to receive local care and treatment, but to add to the quality of life in the communities we serve.”
The location of the County Dialysis Center in Aroostook County is invaluable to dialysis patients and their loved ones. Having a dialysis center close to home allows patients to receive local care while having the support network of their families and friends.
“With generous support from Katahdin Trust and that of other thoughtful business leaders, we will succeed in our campaign to fund the County Dialysis Center for our neighbors in the County well into the future,” said Glenda Dwyer, TAMC interim president.
The goal is to raise $320,000 over the next several months to complete the $750,000 goal. Donations may be made online at www.emhsfoundation.org/donate/tamc or by mail to TAMC Foundation, P.O. Box 970, Presque Isle, ME 04769.
