Gift of lights gives hope
to those impacted by cancer in The County
PRESQUE ISLE — For five straight years, Aroostook County residents have helped give hope during the holiday season by supporting cancer care in the region. This year’s Lights of Life program was brighter than ever as two long-standing community organizations came together to raise awareness and support for area cancer services.
MISS MAINE PRINCESS Hadley McLean 
signed autographs and thanked people as they supported local cancer care services at MPG during the store’s Wrap it Up sales event. McLean led TAMC and MPG to another successful season of giving to support patient needs at Aroostook Cancer Care.
The Aroostook Medical Center and Maine Potato Growers (MPG) partnered to raise nearly $5,000 to support the purchase of new patient treatment chairs which will provide added comfort to patients seeking treatment at Aroostook Cancer Care in Presque Isle.
“Patients frequently spend several hours a day sitting in the treatment chairs and many do this several times per week. While receiving treatment, patients often eat lunch and nap. The chairs we currently utilize are older and after many years of use are becoming less comfortable for our patients,” said Brenda Baker, manager of TAMC’s Aroostook Cancer Care. “Our patients’ comfort and safety are of utmost importance to us and replacement of some of our older chairs will assist us in ensuring our patients are as comfortable as possible during their treatments.”
For the first time, awareness was taken downtown to the MPG Truck and Tractor facility on Main Street where a 22-foot fir tree was lit during the Presque Isle Holiday Light Parade. During the festive evening, parade guest of honor Miss Maine Princess Hadley McLean lit the first of two trees symbolizing this program. For the entire month of December, the tree stood lit for all to enjoy as they passed through downtown. A second tree was lit at the MPG ACE Hardware/Farm Store on Parsons Street during a rally for hope event held simultaneously with the store’s Wrap it Up sales event.
“This project is so meaningful and to have the community’s support is heartwarming and certainly solidifies that we are doing good work,” said Sharon Daigle-Gerrish, manager of the MPG ACE Hardware/Farm Store. “We are so fortunate to have local cancer care services and partnering with TAMC on this program feels like the right thing to do. MPG believes in supporting local people so to partner with TAMC is a win-win for us all.”
“This year was another successful year and we are very thankful for those who supported this program and ultimately patient care needs,” said Bobbie-Jo Caron, TAMC advancement specialist and project lead. “We are very grateful for all of the gifts received and the difference this will make for our patients.”
