The 15th annual Last Mile Ride, Run and Walk, held as a virtual “Home Edition” event this year due to the pandemic, raised record-breaking funds for the cause during the first 15 days in August. The event, which invited participants to register online and ride, run or walk at a time and location of their choosing, raised nearly $150,000 to support end-of-life care for Gifford patients, bringing the grand total to more than $1,030,000 raised since the inaugural Last Mile Ride event in 2006.
Last Mile organizers structured the first-ever Home Edition over 15 days in honor of their 15-year history. More than 230 people registered. They rode motorcycles and bicycles, ran, and walked to support end-of-life care and special services.
“Your support makes a difference in the lives of so many patients and their families as they face the end of life or manage living with a serious illness,” Ashley Lincoln, director of development at Gifford, told participants during her closing remarks in a Facebook Live message on Saturday, Aug. 15, the final day of the event. “You are so appreciated, whether you ride, run or walk, or provide a business sponsorship, or volunteer your time. We couldn’t do this without you.”
As in years past, participants wore T-shirts in the event’s signature orange and black, while others had custom team T-shirts printed in memory of family members and friends they had lost. They took selfies, group photos, and videos, which they posted on Facebook and Instagram to share with the greater Last Mile community.
“We have loved seeing your faces on social media as you share your adventures with the entire Last Mile family,” Lincoln said. “From Vermont to Maine to California, you really know how to represent. Thank you.”
The funds raised help patients and families meet their unique needs during advanced illness or at the end of life. Over the years, the Last Mile has covered costs associated with estate planning and funeral services, special events like weddings, transportation for visiting family members or for patients who require appointments with specialists outside of the region, and more.
Lincoln thanked all who raised money, including this year’s top fundraiser and longtime supporter, Chip Milnor, who raised more than $13,000. Additionally, she announced that the Last Mile received a generous gift from Ellie Strode, a friend to Gifford for many years, that “pushed us well over our fundraising goal.”
Forty-seven businesses supported the 2020 Last Mile Ride, including the following major sponsors: Frankenburg Agency, Gary and Mary West Foundation, Mascoma Bank, Neagley & Chase Construction, Northfield Savings Bank, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, Boston Private, Chip’s Auto, Kinney Pike, Memic, ProAct, and Rural Vermont Real Estate.
Lincoln emphasized Last Mile’s deep appreciation for all gifts and sponsorships received, regardless of amount, and also spoke to the unifying effect that Home Edition had on the community despite the need for a virtual event.
“This year, 2020, has been extremely challenging for all of us,” she said. “As we all have distanced ourselves to protect the health and safety of our community during the pandemic, I am proud to say that our Home Edition brought us together in a unique way that benefits so many people.”
For more information about the Last Mile Ride, Run and Walk Home Edition, visit lastmileride.com and follow on Facebook and Instagram.
