Fund-raisers planned to aid Parkman accident victim

loading...

Until he was critically injured in a head-on collision in March that took the life of his friend, who was driving the car, 22-year-old Adam Vernott of Parkman had planned to spend the summer working as a white-water rafting guide.

Instead, he will spend the summer in physical therapy hoping to recuperate from the accident, which has left him with quadriparesis, explained his aunt, Elizabeth Morin of Parkman.

Recently moved out of the intensive care unit at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Vernott is currently in Room 301 and is starting physical therapy.

“He is paralyzed from the midchest area down, and is on a respirator,” Morin said.

“Quadriparesis means that he has minimal movement from the midchest down. He can move his arms but not his fingers. He can’t grip things or do anything like turn a leaf in a book. Doctors are looking at four to five weeks of therapy, but he is allowed visitors,” she added.

The son of Joe and Robin Vernott and brother of Carrie Farmer, all of Parkman, Adam was a 1997 graduate of Piscataquis Community High School in Guilford and a student of civil engineering and architectural technology at Central Maine Technical College in Auburn.

“He is an avid outdoorsman who loves fishing,” Morin said, “and we are hoping, with assistance, that he can get out this summer. He loved hunting, too.”

As Adam Vernott works to recover from this terrible accident, friends, family and community members are doing what they can to help alleviate some of the expenses incurred by his extensive medical care.

An all-you-can-eat spaghetti supper is planned for 4-8 p.m., Saturday, April 27, at the Parkman Grange Hall.

“Also, a group of his high school friends are collecting prizes for a raffle that will be conducted on the same day as a yard sale, which will be Saturday, May 25, at the Parkman town office,” Morin said.

Any and all donations for the yard sale are most welcome and items can be dropped off at the barn by the town office in Parkman, or people can call Kurt Leighton, 876-4416; Ryan Campbell, 997-2071; or Tessa Parigo, 997-3359, for more information.

Vernott’s friends have been working hard to gather some good items for that raffle, which Morin said will include everything from 100 gallons of oil to furniture and gift certificates, all donated by area businesses.

Those who cannot participate in any of these fund-raisers but who would like to help with Adam’s expenses can make contributions to a fund that has been established in Adam Vernott’s name at the Dexter Regional Federal Credit Union in Guilford.

I have good news for those of you who read this column on Saturday, April 6, and believe you have to preregister to participate in the Second Annual Beth C. Wright Walk for Life next month.

That event begins with a light breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and is followed by the walk at 10 a.m., rain or shine, Saturday, May 4, at the Addison Town Hall.

Organizer Lynn Toppin called this week to clarify information she had provided about that event.

Toppin said she had meant to say that only individuals who want to have a walk T-shirt need to register by Monday, April 15.

“We just wanted to know how many shirts to order,” she explained, “but we also kind of wanted an idea of how many people we would have to feed.

“But, really, anyone can register, anytime, even right up to the day of the race.”

So there you have it.

If you want a Walk for Life T-shirt, register now.

If you just wish to participate, register when you can, or on race day.

To preregister now or to register later, call Toppin at 483-6104 or Angel Alley, 483-2326.

Last year’s event attracted more than 500 walkers and raised more than $50,000 for the Choose Life Foundation, founded by Wright two months before she died of breast cancer at age 28.

The Choose Life Foundation helps cancer patients and their families who reside in Addison and neighboring communities.

The KISS Kares for Kids Radiothon held last month at the Bangor Mall helped raise more than $20,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network of Eastern Maine Healthcare.

The event was co-hosted by Mike Elliott and Mike Dow of the station’s popular “Mike & Mike” morning show and featured KISS personalities Nelson Jewell and Jay Hanson, as well as EMH physicians, nurses, patients and their families associated with CMN. Organizers hope it will be an annual event.

Maine women between the ages of 40 and 64, with little or no health insurance, and who have not received breast and cervical screenings for at least one year, can take advantage of a special offer.

Penquis CAP and St. Joseph Healthcare are co-sponsoring a free breast and cervical screening day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, in Building 2 of St. Joseph Healthcare’s Regional Breast Care Center, 900 Broadway in Bangor.

All screenings will be performed by appointment.

Women who want to find out if they qualify, or to schedule an appointment, should call the Maine Breast & Cervical Health Program at (800)-350-5180 and press 1.

The program enables women to receive “one-stop” screening and provides appropriate follow-up, including referrals.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.