We recently ran a notice in the Upcoming Events section of Maine PD News about a fundraiser to support the Maine Parkinson Society (MEPS). The event raised money by sale of movie tickets at Smitty’s Cinema in Topsham on the 27th of October.
Cameron Loeschner, a senior at Mount Ararat High School, organized the event. He tells me this was a part of his capstone project. Thinking of his grandfather, Cameron noted, “I wanted to do something that would benefit Parkinson’s disease.” Seniors work with a mentor on the capstone, and Cameron reports his mentor was Amy Berube, LMSW at Mid Coast-Parkview Health. “We worked together, looked up different ideas, and came up with a movie night.” They raised over $620 and donated it MEPS. “I didn’t know much about Maine Parkinson’s at first, but I wanted to have more of a direct impact on my community. Amy helped me with selecting them, and I contacted Morgan Knox. Morgan was a big part of it.”
The event apparently went well, and Cameron says, “I’m, glad I did it. To be the one that set that up was really cool. It made me see what I want to do in life, and it felt really good to do something that may help my grandfather.
James Pope, Cameron’s grandfather, tells me “I am very proud of Cameron for spotlighting something this close to home. It means a lot that he thought of me, and that he kept the money right here in Maine. There are all kinds of programs around the country, but very few right here in our state.”
Cameron has been accepted to Thomas College, in Waterville, Maine, and plans to major in communications with a concentration in public relations and marketing. He’s off to a good start. Thank you, Cameron!
