Hello Everyone,
As many of you I'm sure are well aware, I am not the most athletic, exercise driven, health-conscious person, and the idea to become one kind of scares me. I have never done a fundraising event, I have never done a race, and I have never asked people for money on my behalf. All of that is changing this August.
From August 1st - 30th I'm going to be undertaking in the Cross for LifeFlight which is an event where participants hike, bike, swim, walk, run, and kayak across our amazing state. The reason why I am going to "cross" is different than most. This year I am going to walk in memory of my mother, Mary Sweeney Underwood who passed away this year from cancer.
After moving to Gray, ME from Edgecomb, she undertook a personal journey creating a "Nordic Walking" group where seniors and anyone who wanted to join could get exercise and improve their mobility while all the same having a great social experience. She was an amazing woman that could talk constantly and was passionate about what she did.
My mother, Mary Underwood, told literally everyone she could find that I worked for LifeFlight. From doctors' appointments to town office staff, to fellow walkers in Gray, she was a cheerleader for my journey in the company and for everything that it stands for. She was incredibly proud of me, but more importantly she was proud of what a company like LifeFlight of Maine stands for. She donated to our Foundation what she could and said a prayer every time we went over her house in Gray. LifeFlight of Maine brings critical care medicine, life-saving blood, skilled providers, and the hope of potentially saving a life directly to patients. LifeFlight is a non-profit that touches every corner of Maine and helps people no matter who, or where you are.
While it isn't a huge number, I am going to walk in my mother's memory 72 miles for every year that she was with us and raise money for the LifeFlight Mission. No amount is too small. Please take a moment and help me along my journey, thank you!
-Patrick Sweeney Underwood
Critical Care Flight Paramedic/Clinical Educator
8 Years - LifeFlight of Maine
