Gary's House Helps House and Feed Mainers
The 5th annual Dine Around the World was held February 11th at the Holiday Inn by the Bay. More than 250 guests were in attendance to sample food from twenty of greater Portland’s best restaurants and bid on gifts donated by local businesses.
The fundraiser is one of the most celebrated in Portland and helps raise money to house the families of those receiving medical treatment at Mercy Hospital or the Maine Medical Center.
Located less than a block from Mercy Hospital and close to Maine Medical Center, Gary’s House provides guests a place to rest and recuperate while dealing with emotional and physical stresses of illness and hospitalization.
In 1989, an eighteen year old from Kennebunk was diagnosed with cancer. For two years he fought to overcome his disease, first by seeking treatment in nearby Portland and then in Boston. During this time, his family faced severe financial hardship due to overwhelming medical expenses.
His mother, determined to stay with her son through thick and thin, often slept on the hospital room floor. It was through her sacrifice that the concept for Gary's House was born.
Gary Pike’s dream was to enable families to be with loved ones when they were faced with serious injury or life threatening illness that required hospitalization. Gary lost his battle against cancer in 1991, yet the dream did not die with him. Over the next seven years his family and friends worked to fulfill his dream.
Gary's House was opened in 1998 in an elegant Federal-style home in Portland. Since then it has welcomed families from all walks of life all across the world. Today, Gary's House stands as a tribute to a young man who dreamed of making life better for others, while fighting to save his own.
As a business that sees firsthand the effects an extended hospital stay can have on both a patient and his or her family, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is proud to support Gary’s House and the wonderful service it provides.
Nearly twenty years ago a teenager from Kennebunk wanted families to be able to remain by the sides of loved ones in hospitals without being financially burdened. Today, thanks to his vision and the hard work of his family and friends, Gary Pike’s dream is a reality.
For more information on Gary’s House or to schedule a stay, please call (207) 773-9800 or visit them online at: www.mercyhospital.com/content/garyshouse.htm.
