PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Northern Light AR Gould Hospital has kicked off its 2025 Lights of Life campaign. Community members can honor and remember friends, family members, caregivers and others who have been affected by cancer. Every dollar raised through Lights of Life will stay local to support cancer care services in Aroostook County.
“This fundraiser is an annual tradition at AR Gould, raising more than $100,000 over the past 17 years,” says Laura Turner, director of community outreach and philanthropy at the hospital. “Lights of Life is a way you can make a difference for those now in treatment or those who will need treatment in the future. The expenses associated with cancer can be particularly challenging for patients and families. This program makes a huge difference in their lives.”
Lights of Life includes the sale of colored lights to help “brighten” the holidays for patients at the hospital being treated for cancer and their loved ones. Lights include white, $15; red, $30; green, $50; blue, $100; orange, $250, purple, $500. The star that tops the tree is $1,000. There is also the opportunity to purchase a constellation for $2,500 or sponsor the entire tree for $5,000. The sale of these lights has already begun and will continue until the end of the year.
We are excited to announce that this year’s star has been purchased in memory of John Lisnik, Sr. by his widow Donna and the Lisnik/Reed family. John served a tour in Vietnam in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, later taught at Caribou High School and then served for eight years in the Maine Legislature. His advocacy continued even after retirement and through his experience with cancer. John has been described as a true friend, a patriot, a loving family man and a tireless public servant.
“Our family is sponsoring this star to honor John’s valiant fight against CMML [chronic myelomonocytic leukemia] and to thank AR Gould and Cancer Care for the support he received during that time,” says Donna. “John was diagnosed with leukemia in March 2018. He was treated at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston as well as AR Gould Hospital’s Cancer Care center. It was so convenient to have an excellent Cancer Care center close to home which could provide John with support when we could leave Boston.”
Sadly, John passed away on April 24, 2020, at the age of 73. Donna so appreciated the support for John and her family that she later volunteered at AR Gould Hospital in the Cancer Care center.
“I encourage everyone to support those who are fighting cancer. It means more than one could ever imagine,” she says.
Donations will be gratefully accepted in John Lisnik’s memory, as well as in memory or honor of any person, family, or group which a donor chooses to designate. The purchase of lights can be made online at northernlighthealth.org/ARGouldLights or by filling out the form from a Lights of Life brochure. These brochures have been mailed to past donors and can also be picked up in the main lobby of the hospital or in the Cancer Care practice.
To celebrate both the Lights of Life campaign and the season, the hospital is holding a tree lighting ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. The event will include hot cocoa and cookies, holiday music, and, of course, the lighting of the tree, located on Academy Street beside the hospital’s emergency department entrance. Donors, cancer patients (past and present) and community members are invited to take part.
The funds raised from Lights of Life help provide support where it is most needed for Northern Light Cancer Care in Presque Isle. Previous years’ funds have been used to purchase new equipment for patient care as well as to support the Cancer Care patient assistance fund, which helps patients with costs associated with treating their cancer.
The names of all who are remembered or honored by the purchase of a light will be posted on the hospital’s website as well as displayed in the hospital. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 31. Upon request, Lights of Life note cards will be provided for those who purchase lights and want to send a message to honorees or their families.
For more details or to purchase a light, visit northernlighthealth.org/ARGouldLights.
