Monica Chenard was injured in a car accident Sept. 13.
RUMFORD – Dozens of area residents converged on Hosmer Field Saturday to support local teenager Monica Chenard and her family.
Through contributions and sponsors, participants in a 5K walk/run raised money for expenses associated with her recovery from a Sept. 13 car accident.
“We thought the walk/run would be a good idea because Monica is a runner,” said Laurie Soucy, one of the event’s organizers. “We wanted an event that was low-pressure and not about competition.”
Soucy and her co-organizer Ryan Casey gathered several door prizes donated from area businesses. “After they’re finished, some people will get a gift certificate to Paradise Day Spa or a manicure from La Bella Belleza. Not a bad deal.”
Runners who don’t win a prize could still come away with cookies, cupcakes or some other pre-Halloween treat from the bake sale tended by Mountain Valley students to raise additional money.
“There’s a lot of support here,” said Casey as he manned the sign-up sheet near Hosmer’s front gate. “People were already contributing last week. This was a success before it even started.”
That success was bolstered by 65 walkers and runners who shook off chilly temperatures to back the Chenard family.
“Monica is an amazing student,” said Dorothy Peters, a teacher at Mountain Valley High School and an organizer of the school’s National Honor Society, which Chenard belongs to. She’s in the junior class. “Running, cheerleading, NHS. And she called me just before the accident to ask if she could be the NHS tutoring coordinator.”
Peters has helped organize an upcoming spaghetti dinner fund-raiser sponsored by the National Honor Society and the Chenard Family Benefit Committee. Gov. John Baldacci is an honorary member of the Mountain Valley NHS and is expected to be in attendance, organizers said. Tickets are $5 and are available for the 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. seating at the Eagles Hall on Thursday, Dec. 4.
Funds from Saturday’s walk/run, the spaghetti dinner and an upcoming raffle will go to help her recovery in a number of ways.
“Yes, it’s for medical costs, but there’s much more than that,” said Peters. “For example, when someone from her family needs to go and stay with her, the expenses add up.”
Chenard is at Brighton Medical Center in Portland, where she is progressing in her recovery. Any cards or well-wishes can be sent to her at New England Rehabilitation Hospital, 335 Brighton Ave., Portland, ME 04102.
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