Swimmers ‘pool’ nearly $1,500
for American Red Cross
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
THE SECOND ANNUAL Swim-A-Cross for the American Red Cross and Cary Medical Center’s “Healthy You” program was held Saturday at the Presque Isle Indoor Pool. Participants collected pledges and had to swim a required minimum number of laps to be considered for prize packages that were awarded to the youth and adult swimmers who collected the highest total of donations. Nearly $1,500 was raised from this year’s event. Swim-A-Cross funds will help local victims of house fires, floods or other disasters served by the Aroostook County Branch of the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross. In addition, funds will also help “Healthy You” deliver valuable programs throughout Aroostook County. Those programs address overall well being, including physical, emotional, mental, social, and family health. Among those participating in this year’s Swim-A-Cross were, from left, front row: Kendra Furber of Stockholm, Julia Dahlgren of Woodland, Erica Hemphill of Presque Isle, and Regine McIntyre of Easton. Back row: John Forbes of Caribou, Mel Smith of Presque Isle, and Ward Silsbee of Caribou.
PRESQUE ISLE – Seth Paddleford of Caribou has friends whose homes have been damaged by fire and, subsequently, received assistance from the American Red Cross-Pine Tree Chapter. That’s why the 11-year-old participated in Saturday’s second annual Swim-A-Cross for the American Red Cross and Cary Medical Center’s “Healthy You” program at the Presque Isle Indoor Pool.
“I have friends that have had fires in their houses and the Red Cross helped them,” said Paddleford, who also participated in last year’s inaugural event. “Since the Red Cross gives so much to us, I wanted to help them. Plus I like swimming and being in the water, so that’s why I decided to come back this year. It’s a fun thing to do.”
Last year Paddleford raised over $100 for the disaster relief organization.
“I didn’t raise as much this year,” he said, “because we were moving and I wasn’t able to collect as many pledges, but every dollar helps.”
Swim-A-Cross funds will help local victims of house fires, floods or other disasters served by the Aroostook County Branch of the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross. The Chapter provides individuals or families with emergency shelter, food, clothing, infant supplies, replacement medicines and medical equipment, and emotional support. Funds will also help “Healthy You” deliver valuable programs throughout Aroostook County. Those programs address overall well being, including physical, emotional, mental, social, and family health. All of these services are free to County residents who use them.
“We were very pleased that the participants, which came from Stockholm, Woodland, Caribou, Presque Isle and Easton, raised so much money … nearly $1,500,” said Joyce Knorr, Aroostook County Branch manager for the American Red Cross-Pine Tree Chapter. “Despite the fact that it was such a beautiful day and there were so many other things going on in The County, they chose to come out and support the mission of the American Red Cross, and we thank them for their support.”
Recognizing that the summer months are busy for most people, Knorr said the organizing committee will consider holding the Swim-A-Cross in the winter or early spring next year as a way to generate more community involvement.
“We’d also like to consider doing it during a season when the college and high school students are actually in school and promote it as more of a challenge for some groups,” she said. “We’ll revisit the event season and see what might work better.”
For more information on the Red Cross, call 493-4620.
HANDING OUT goodie bags and T-shirts at the second annual Swim-A-Cross for the American Red Cross and Cary Medical Center’s “Healthy You” program Saturday at the Presque Isle Indoor Pool were, from left: Sam Clockedile of Mars Hill, and Kristi and Guy Herron of Caribou, both Red Cross volunteers.
