Fundraising campaign kicks off for Manchester teen battling cancer

Alexis Michaud Submitted photo

“Pitching in for our Pitch” is the slogan of a $50,000 community-wide effort to renovate Maranacook Community High School’s softball field, in order to honor a local student-athlete.

The project was initiated by Alexis Michaud, a 17-year-old softball pitcher of Manchester who designated her Make-A-Wish donation toward the renovation of the high school’s softball field. Kennebec Savings Bank President & CEO Andrew Silsby recently announced the Bank’s support by presenting Michaud a check for $10,000 to help launch the fundraising effort, according to a news release from campaign organizers.

“When we heard Alexis’s story and learned more about her generous plans, we jumped at the opportunity to provide the lead gift. We now hope to see other local businesses and community members join in to make this remarkable student athlete’s wish come true,” said Silsby.

Other members of the Maranacook community, including Harry Lanphear, Linda Smith, Matt Dwyer and Melissa O’Neal-Low, are teaming together to raise the additional funds needed to address drainage and excavation issues, install new bleachers, and other upgrades.

Michaud was diagnosed in June 2021 with a rare bone cancer that mostly attacks the spinal column. That September, Michaud underwent nearly 20 hours of surgeries over two days at Pittsburgh Medical Center to remove a tumor and fuse vertebrae to repair the damage. Her cancer is currently in remission.

In April, Michaud was presented with all new softball uniforms and notified that the Maine Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America was going to grant her wish to help renovate her high school’s softball field. Michaud was presented with a new scoreboard for the field at the Make-A-Wish gala in June, but the funding does not cover the full renovation cost.

“We are facing some pretty significant costs with regard to the drainage problems at the field, which render it unusable early in the softball season and require the high school girls to play at the middle school field,” said Lanphear. “We hope to raise the remaining funds needed to address these challenges, which will allow Alexis and her team to play a full season on their own field next year.”

Donations can be directed to gofund.me/cf2a402f.

For more information, call O’Neal-Low at 207-649-7252 or Lanphear at 207-242-2906.