March 28, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Dancers to sponsor ball to aid man who cannot walk

ELLSWORTH — Dancers will kick up their heels in August to help a Hancock man who hopes to walk again.

The non-profit U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association will sponsor a semiformal ball to help Herbert Lounder seek treatment for his spinal cord injury at the Walker Institute in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Lounder’s legs were paralyzed in 1978 after a motorcycle accident. For 14 years, he has dreamed of walking again, a hope rekindled by the Recovery of Function program at the Institute. Several local businesses have donated funds, products, or services for the dance event to be held at 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Downeast YMCA in Ellsworth.

After a medical evaluation at the Institute in June, Lounder was told he may be able to walk again with the help of the six-month, intensive approach to restoring function after spinal cord or central nervous system injury. Program officials have reported success with using the drug GM-1 ganglioside, reportedly used in Europe for many years.

Although Lounder believes a similar program may eventually come to Maine, he prefers not to wait, which could add to the medical complications of being wheelchair-bound. Some of those complications can be life-threatening.

Already Lounder has received a few donations to Right Steps Inc., including one from his 1974 graduating class of Ellsworth High School. He also has visited U.S. Rep. Olympia J. Snowe, who is trying to seek federal funds for Lounder’s organization.

Medicare doesn’t fund rehabilitation programs such as Right Steps, Lounder said.

The idea for the ball came from Lounder’s friend Donna Daigle of Penobscot. “I guess she’d been planning it even before my evaluation,” Lounder said, obviously touched by her efforts.

Fred Miller of radio station WWMJ will serve as announcer. He will play a variety of big band, and ’50s and ’60s music.

Lounder hopes regulary scheduled events will help fund his cause. Interested sponsors include Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the Elks.

The Ellsworth Jaycees are planning a road race to benefit Lounder in September.

For advance tickets or information on the dance, contact Donna Daigle at R.F.D. 1, Box 225A, Penobscot 04476. She may be reached by telephone by calling 667-3771 or 326-9563.


Have feedback? Want to know more? Send us ideas for follow-up stories.

comments for this post are closed

You may also like