24-hour ‘Rally on the Roof’
to raise money for cancer causes
PRESQUE ISLE — A unique first-time fundraiser to benefit Cancer Care Services at The Aroostook Medical Center (TAMC) and the upcoming Aroostook County Relay for Life will go on for 24 hours on the rooftop of the A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital in Presque Isle.
TAMC and the three Cumulus Broadcasting radio stations in Aroostook County are teaming up to host “Rally on the Roof” Thursday, May 17 beginning at 9 a.m. and running through the day and overnight until the same time Friday morning. By the time the rooftop is cleared, organizers hope to raise more than $5,000 and greater awareness about the wide array of cancer care services offered to residents of northern Maine in their own backyard.
Camping out on the roof above the Giberson Day Surgery Unit for the full 24 hours will be Jason Parent, director of advancement for TAMC, and Lisa Miles, general manager for Cumulus Broadcasting in Presque Isle. The two will broadcast on the radio through the day, encouraging listeners to donate and providing updates to the community on their progress. They will also have their happenings monitored on a live webcast of the roof rally for any and all to see.
But, Parent and Miles won’t be the only two inhabiting the rooftop deck. As part of the fund-raising effort, community members are encouraged to pay to have a “rooftop warrant” issued for the “arrest” of someone they’d like to see spend some time on the roof.
The warrant cost is $150. Once issued, the “Rally on the Roof” paddy wagon (a recently de-commissioned Crown Ambulance) will be dispatched to pick up the accused. When the arrested party arrives at the A.R. Gould Hospital they will go before a mock court to be sentenced to serve time on the roof. While on the roof, it will be the person’s responsibility to raise their bail by calling friends and family to work their way off.
“We are going to have a great time,” said Miles. “In addition to people making donations online and calling in their pledges, we’re encouraging co-workers to pull together and pool money to have a warrant issued on their boss, community and civic groups to do the same and have one of their members ‘arrested,’ and others who would like to see someone spend some time on the roof to benefit a great cause.”
Depending on the weather, detainees won’t find it an overly great hardship to serve their time and raise their bail. Lowe’s of Presque Isle is sponsoring the rooftop deck, complete with patio furniture and a “blinged out” port-o-potty donated for the event by Tompkins Plumbing and Heating, also of Presque Isle.
“I’ve been involved in a number of fundraisers, but I’d have to say this is the most unique,” said Parent. “In addition to the good fun, the best part about what we are doing is the great cause which the proceeds go toward. Aroostook Cancer Care is a vitally important service TAMC provides to the region. Without it, area residents would have to travel to Bangor to get the same comprehensive care. Not only would that present a tremendous financial hardship, but for many patients a very difficult physical challenge, as well.”
To add to the festivities, TAMC’s team participating in the upcoming Aroostook County Relay for Life June 1-2 called “Raise of Hope” will host a block party on the afternoon of the “Rally on the Roof” between 4:30-6:30 p.m. Complete with a barbeque and band, the community is invited to join in the celebration and track the progress on the roof. The block party will be held in the area in front of the Giberson Day Surgery Unit. Proceeds from the barbeque will benefit the Relay for Life.
Radio broadcasts of the “Rally on the Roof” can be heard throughout the day on the Cumulus Broadcasting radio stations WQHR-FM 96.1 – Q96, WBPW-FM 96.9 – Hot Country 97, and WOZI-FM 101.9 – 102 FM The Rock. Progress can also be tracked on the official website (www.tamc.org/rooftop) including a live webcam view of the activity on the roof.
Persons interested in making a donation or issuing a “Rooftop Warrant” can do so at any time in advance of the event or during the rally by visiting the website or calling the TAMC Charities office at 768-4858.
