This following article is a guest post from a friend and owner of Bad Dog Deli, Ben Grant.
In 1990, a cute little blond girl named Morgan was born.
My name is Ben, and that cute little blond girl is my pain in the ass little sister. As children, we played, sometimes too rough. I can remember a time when Morgan needed stitches because I had accidentally struck her with a stick. We were 5 and 9. There were a number of instances over an 8 year stretch that we fought, hugged, snuggled and acted as what we were, a younger sister and older brother.
In 1997 things changed quickly for our duo, after a number of trips to the doctor and failed diagnoses, we were disheartened to discover Morgan had a tumor growing at the base of her brain stem. Everything changed in our household. I was 10 or 11 and continued with life as usual: school, sports, friends and sleepovers. Morgan was taken out of school for surgeries and treatments, her friends asking where she had gone. The fighting between us changed, the level of energy changed, the times we would sit and play Monopoly together, all changed.
After a battle with cancer and remission, we lost Morgan in January of 1998. She had just turned 8 years old. After a number of years, jobs, relationships, and living arrangements, I found myself back in the state of Maine closer to my friends and family. It was then that I was offered to participate in a crazy event called the Maine Children’s Cancer Program Polar Dip.
The Polar Dip is held each year in February at Sebago Lake. Teams of participants plunge into the icy waters all in support of Maine Children’s Cancer Program. Funds are raised months leading up to the event and go directly to the program, a community that had helped my family years before. Not only does this event support a program that has directly impacted my and my family’s life, the timing is very close to Morgan’s birthday and anniversary of passing. Without hesitation, as a way to give back to such an important cause, my brother Joe and I signed up to plunge!
Since our initial jump in 2011, Joe and I have raised almost $18k with the help of a few special friends willing to jump with us. This year the event takes place on February 14th and we welcome all those willing to participate! If you want to jump, join our team. If you want to help, make a donation. If you’d like to support, come on down to the ice! There is so much that people can do to aid the Maine Children’s Cancer Program and their research.
MCCP was there for my family when we needed it most, I hope that through this event, I can give back to them and aid in their support of families who need it today.
You can visit Ben’s Polar Dip fundraising page HERE. (I donated. Will you join me?)
Benjamin Grant is a Pownal, Maine native and the owner of Bad Dog Deli in Scarborough, where he puts his Johnson and Wales degree to use each day. He prides himself in running a friendly, down-to-earth and delicious eatery. When not at the Deli, Ben spends time with his wife Katie, son Abel and 3 beagles, Johnnie, Molly and Newcastle in their Lisbon Falls home.
Each Friday, the another jennifer blog shares stories of those who incorporate philanthropy into their everyday lives – personally and professionally – in a creative and unique way. If you have a story you’d like to share, please contact Jennifer. Read past stories here.
Thank you Ben for sharing your personal experience with this. Truly so very sorry for the loss of your sister. Sounds like a wonderful cause and heading over to find out more now to see what I can do, too.
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Thanks Janine, its a difficult fact of life that is exacerbated by her age. Maine Children’s is an awesome place, filled with amazing people. Its easy to say that about a lot of charitable organizations but this one is dear to me!
What an awful tragedy you and your family had to face. My dad is a pediatric oncologist and it breaks my heart every time he loses a patient (and I know it takes a huge toll on him, which of course pales in comparison to what the family faces). This is such a cool way, though, to raise money and awareness for what sounds like a wonderful organization. Thanks for sharing, and good luck with it this year!
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Bev, you’re dad is a good man! The medical field is tough, especially when it comes to children. Thank you for your support, and thank your father from my family. It takes people of a strong mind and character to be able to continue in a field where loss is customary.
Thank you, Ben, for sharing your story about Morgan.
What a wonderful way to raise awareness for Maine’s cancer program. One of my high school friends is losing her toddler to a brain tumor right now and all she wants is for people to talk about it and to say that it happens and how we need to find ways to make it STOP.
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Tamara, having lost my sister, and having had my first child this past July, I can align myself with the feelings and experience your friend is going through. Be there to support her as best you can!
I’m such a baby when it comes to the cold but I’ve always wanted to do a polar plunge! We always had one in my high school to raise money for kids with down syndrome and other diseases, but I was always too chicken. I need to add this to my bucket list!
I googled the Polar Dip and was lead to this page – Ben – you and Joe rock!!! Think of her often – donation made – much love! A. Bambi