BREWER, Maine—The L Factor, a hair salon in Brewer owned and operated by Gina Leonard and Jodi Leighton, held its 7th annual charity hair show on March 2 at Jeff’s Catering. This year, proceeds from the show totaling more than $4,500 were donated to the LifeFlight Foundation.
The annual hair show is a high-energy, runway style event that features fast-paced, live hair styling right on the runway. This year’s theme was aviation, complete with flight attendants, first class and coach seating, young and handsome fighter pilots, and a parade of women with cutting edge curls, color, extensions and accessories.
“We’re really lucky to have this air ambulance service here,” said salon co-owner Gina Leonard. “In the process of planning for the fundraiser and talking with potential sponsors, I’ve discovered that people don’t realize LifeFlight is a non-profit organization that depends on private donations to purchase things like aircraft and advanced medical equipment.”
The funds raised at the hair show will go directly to help support LifeFlight’s mission to provide access to critical care and medical transport for everyone in Maine, no matter who they are or where they are.
“This kind of community fundraising is critical for LifeFlight,” explained the organization’s director of development, Amy Root. “While insurance payments cover the cost of operating the service, we need additional funding to purchase the advanced medical equipment that allows the flight crew to provide a high level of care to the patients during transport.”
Established in 2003, the LifeFlight Foundation is a small, independent, non-profit organization with a large statewide mission to assure the availability of a state-of-the-art medical transport system for all of Maine, increasing access to specialized tertiary care for rural communities. The Foundation provides funding to support LifeFlight of Maine’s capital needs, community outreach and infrastructure development projects, and is currently raising money to purchase a third aircraft.
LifeFlight of Maine is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit air medical and critical care transport organization. LifeFlight helicopters, flying at 165 miles per hour, bring lifesaving critical care staff and equipment directly to the patient. It also provides advanced emergency medical training to Maine’s hospitals, emergency medical services (EMS) and public safety agencies. Overseen by 21 physicians, LifeFlight cared for more than 1,500 critically ill and injured patients in 2012. Since its inception in 1998, LifeFlight has transported more than 15,000 patients from every hospital and nearly all of Maine’s communities and islands. If you would like to donate or learn more about LifeFlight, give us a call at 270-230-7092.