Cross for LifeFlight

Welcome to my Cross for LifeFlight Fundraising Page!

Between August 1 and August 31, I will be doing my own Crossing to support LifeFlight of Maine, a challenge that will symbolize the difficulties of providing lifesaving emergency medical care to Maine's many island and rural communities. 

LifeFlight of Maine is a nonprofit organization and the state’s only emergency medical helicopter service. With three helicopters, an airplane and ground ambulances, LifeFlight brings ICU-level care directly to the patient. As Maine’s only air ambulance service, LifeFlight has served more than 40,000 patients, one life at a time, from every community and hospital in the state. 

LifeFlight plays a critical role in the “chain of survival” by connecting people to the care they need. People who live in Maine and people who visit Maine—including me—depend on LifeFlight to be there for them. I’m comforted to know that they’ll be there for me, and for my friends and family, should the unthinkable happen.

The unthinkable happened 14 years ago, when my daughter-in-law, KC Ford, married to my son Matthew, was in a small plane that sank soon after taking off from Matinicus Island.  She sustained a split aorta and a broken back and was in critical conidtion.  KC was transported by a lobster boat, another plane, an ambulance and finally a LifeFlight helicopter to a trauma unit at Central Maine Medical Center, Lewiston, Maine.  After nearly two weeks in intensive care, KC recovered and is doing great these days.  

My wife, Carolyn, and I are most grateful to LifeFlight Maine for saving her life!

I’m going to make my crossing to support this important cause. My individual event goal is to run 130 miles in the month of August.  Won’t you support it too? Just click on the “donate” button. Any amount is greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much for supporting my efforts, and mostly, for supporting this critically important service.

Take care,

Joel Russ