Whether you love to challenge yourself or want to create a memorable experience with friends, family, or coworkers, the Cross for LifeFlight is open to everyone and every activity— hiking, cycling, swimming, kayaking, running, and sailing! You have the flexibility to choose your favorite solo or team activity, and complete your Crossing, however, whenever, and wherever you choose during the month of August.  In addition to your individual Crossing plans we invite you to join us for an in-person event of various activities! For more information on the in-person events visit here.  Each in-person event does not require additional registration fees or additional fundraising above the required $350 fundraising minimum. 

By coming together for the past ten years, participants in this event have raised more than $2 million to upgrade and standardize LifeFlight’s fleet of helicopters, purchase the specialized equipment needed on board, and to fund important clinical education and training programs across the state. We are proud to partner with great Maine-based companies to provide exciting and quality gear and fundraising incentives for this unique event.

Since its inception, the Cross for LifeFlight has become one of LifeFlight of Maine's most important fundraisers of the year...and we count on people like YOU to join us. To learn more about the event, including sponsorship, partnership, or participation you can be involved with the Cross For LifeFlight, please visit the event website at www.crossforlifeflight.org or contact Ashley MacMillan, the Director of Annual Giving at 207.357.5508

We'd love to hear from you!

LifeFlight Foundation
PO Box 859
Augusta, ME 04332

amacmillan@lifeflight.me
207-230-7092

You can track all of your Crossing activities right here! Recording your mileage is super easy, and this year you will be logging your miles directly into the RunSignUp System. Once you do it a few times you'll get into the hang of it!  You can enter your activities at any time, you do not need to wait until August 1. If you are having any trouble, please email us at amacmillan@lifeflight.me. 

Follow these steps to submit and manage your activities and upload photos:

• Login to your RunSignup account. We recommend letting it remember your username/password as you'll be here often!
• Navigate to "My Profile" and you should see your Cross for LifeFight event. We recommend bookmarking this page so you can find it quickly every day.
• Click "Submit Virtual Results"
• Here you will be able to log your activities.  Select the activity you did and the day for which you are entering the miles and add the mileage you ran/walked/hiked/biked/paddled that day.
• Click "Submit Activity"
• After you submit your activity, you can either add another activity or submit your photos.  We want to see everyone's photos from their Crossing! Photos are also eligible for our Photo Contest! 
• Click "Submit your Photos", and then upload images. Select the image(s) you wish to share, and click "I'm Finished Uploading"
• That's it - you are done! Don't forget to come back and do this every day you do an activity! 

When you go to submit your next activity, click "Add Another Activity"! This way you don't overwrite your previous activity! RunSignup will automatically update your total distance and time to show you your total progression to date!

Tips and Tricks

It's best to enter your distance daily. Obviously, life happens and you will perhaps not be able to every day, but staying consistent will make it easy so you're not having to enter a ton of data at once. Plus seeing that progression is very motivating!

Please check out these how to videos for the
CROSS FOR LIFEFLIGHT TRACKING SITE

I want to support LifeFlight of Maine. How do I sign up?
Great, we’d love to have you join us! For this year’s event, you can choose your favorite activity to cross Maine in your favorite location. Participants can swim, paddle, hike, bike, row, sail, and more in every county, helping us connect the corners of Maine, just like LifeFlight connects patients across the state to the critical care they need, when they need it. 

 
What will the 2026 event look like? 
Complete your Crossing anytime between August 1 and August 31. This means you’ll have the entire month to complete a swim, paddle, row, ride, run, hike of your choice. In addition, new this year we will have optional in-person, synchronous events! You will have the opportunity to join a group hike paddle as part of your Cross, if you wish.  To learn more about the in-person events, click here.  Also, we want to hear all about your Crossing so be sure to share your plans with us!  You will be able to easily track your activities and miles Crossed along with submit photos of you doing so!  

If i join a team do we have to do our Crossing together?
Your Crossing can be with your team, or solo, it is totally up to you! Teams are created to increase engagement, comradery, and reach shared mileage goals and milestones. 

Who can join me at the in-person events? 
We are very much looking to the in-person events and hope that you are, too! As they are new, each event has a limited capacity, and in-person event participation is limited to participants who are registered for the Cross for LifeFlight.  If your friends and family want to join you - encourage them to sign for their own Cross and join your team! 
 
Am I required to fundraise?
The fundraising minimum is crucial to our successful event and LifeFlight's ongoing mission. The fundraising minimum is $350 - but that's just 10 donations from family, friends, and coworkers of $35 each.

 
What can make your Cross for LifeFlight even better?
Teams! The Cross for LifeFlight is better with friends and family! Anyone can create a new team or join an existing team. Each team member registers as an individual and is committing to the minimum fundraising goals, but teams are a great way to participate together and motivate each other to meet your goals.

 
How will I get my participant kit?
Participant kits will be mailed to participants in early July. 

 
Why is this event so important for LifeFlight?
At LifeFlight, we believe that everyone in Maine has the right to lifesaving critical care, and we know that every minute counts.  With more than one million people spread across a vast state, providing critical care transport is a complex but essential service. When we all work together, we can bridge the miles to save lives.

 
Additional Questions? 
Please contact us at amacmillan@lifeflight.me.

The Founder’s Prize, established in 2016, is awarded to a participant who embodies the heart and soul of the crossing. Given in honor of Jessie Davis, who founded the event in 2013, this award is presented to a participant who embodies Jessie’s spirit, intention, will and grit. This person demonstrates a deep passion for LifeFlight’s mission and has achieved significant fundraising success.

Do you have a suggestion for who should be recognized? We'd love to hear from you. Email your ideas to amacmillan@lifeflight.me. Please include a detailed explanation of why you think this person is deserving of the Founder's Prize.

Previous Recipients:

2025: Hollye Lord

2024: Joel Russ, Melissa Dufault, Molly Lincoln, & Team North Haven

2023: KC Ford, Paige Smith, & the Jacobs family

2022: Erin Sandler & Ali Simonds

2021: Claire Sasner

2020: Sheryl Tishman

2019: John Rex-Waller

2018: Sandy Alexander

2017: Wade Smith

2016:  Jessie Davis

With your Cross for LifeFlight registration, each of you will receive a participant kit, which includes custom and Maine based gear!  In addition, you can be eligible to receive exciting incentives for your fundraising efforts.

Each participant is required to fundraise a minimum of $350 each by September 15, 2026.  Don't be intimated, you'll be surprised how easy it truly is - that could be just $35 from 10 friends or family members!  Last year, the average fundraising amount was $1,600! 

To reward you for going above and beyond we are excited to provide Maine adventure-themed incentive prizes for reaching the fundraising levels of $1,000, $2,500, $4,000.  Stay tuned for prizes for 2026!

Each participant is required to fundraise a minimum of $350 each by September 15, 2026.  Don't be intimated, you'll be surprised how easy it truly is - that could be just $35 from 10 friends or family members! 

This event is many things to many people, but at its core, it is a critically important fundraiser for LifeFlight of Maine, a nonprofit organization and our state’s only emergency medical helicopter service. Since we started operations in 1998, LifeFlight has touched the lives of more than 40,000 critically ill and injured people from nearly every community in Maine.  We know that not everyone is a born fundraiser, but get this: last year’s participants raised an average of more than $1,600 per person! That’s right, people just like you raised more than $216,000 for LifeFlight.

Set a fundraising goal. It’s a goal so set it high, so you have to stretch yourself to reach it. Together we can make a real difference for critically ill and injured patients in Maine.  In return for your fundraising, you could be eligible for great fundraising incentive prizes that you can view here.  If you need fundraising tips, click here. And, you won't want to be left out of the Peak Performers Exclusive Fundraising Club! 

This event is many things to many people, but at its core, it is a critically important fundraiser for LifeFlight of Maine, a nonprofit organization and our state’s only emergency medical helicopter service. Since we started operations in 1998, LifeFlight has touched the lives of more than 40,000 critically ill and injured people from nearly every community in Maine.

We know that not everyone is a born fundraiser, but get this: Last year’s participants raised an average of more than $1,600 per person! That’s right, people just like you raised more than $216,000 for LifeFlight. Here are some ways to up your fundraising game!

• Set up your fundraising page. You don't have to make it complicated. Think of the people landing on your page, how PROUD they are of you! They're excited to support you and know that swimming across the Bay is an amazing feat.
• Add a photo of yourself. Not for you? How about a photo of the ocean or mountains. 
• Set a fundraising goal. It’s a goal so set it high, so you have to stretch yourself to reach it. Together, you and the other swimmers, paddlers and our terrific sponsors can make a real difference for critically ill and injured patients in Maine.
• Write a short little blurb about 1) what you're doing; 2) why you're doing it; and 3) how much you would appreciate the support. Seriously, just a few short but personal sentences are enough to enlist support.
• Just remember, you aren't asking them to send you money. You're asking them to support LifeFlight of Maine, this organization that is saving lives every single day.
  Write a post on your social media page or pages.
• Pick up the phone and call, or send a personal text message to someone.
• Some employers will match an employee’s donation. Ask your friends to connect with their HR department for details on how to make that request.
• Finally, ask your friends and family. You don't even have to ask in person! Share your page on Facebook, use the automated email function to mass mail, or send the page link to people separately. People like to participate  You can do it, but you have to ASK!

Want some useful talking points?

• LifeFlight is Maine’s only statewide helicopter critical care transport service.
• In 2025, LifeFlight cared for more than 3,000 critically ill or injured patients throughout the state.
• We have helped more than 40,000 patients get the advanced medical treatment and rapid transport they need, no matter where they are or whether they are able to pay.
• This nonprofit service is literally the difference between life and death, especially when transport over rugged terrain (or water!) can take hours to get to the nearest trauma center.
• LifeFlight of Maine is nationally renowned for safety and leadership.
• Funds raised at this year’s event support LifeFlight's mission
  

  For more tips and tricks, view our Fundraising Guide below.  

 We know from speaking with patients that gratitude can be a powerful healing tool. The Grateful Patient team is one way for patients and their to say thank you, build awareness, and help raise funds to ensure LifeFlight crews can continue to answer the call for help from those who need it most. 

"Our gratitude to LifeFlight bonds us. We are in the same club that we never expected to be in." Grateful Patient and CFL Participant, KC Ford 

Who can join the Grateful Patient team? Do I have to be the patient or can I be a relative? 
We know that the gratitude for LifeFlight does not stop at just the patient, it extends are beyond to family members as well. Patients and their direct family members (parents, children, siblings, etc) are invited to join us on the team! 

Is there a special rate for being a Grateful Patient team member?
Yes! Contact Ashley MacMillan at amacmillan@lifeflight.me or 207-357-5508 for details and instructions to register. 

If I’m on the Grateful Patient team do I need to do my Cross activities with the team?
Being on a team does not mean that you need to do your Crossing activities with the team, however, it sure would be fun to do so! If you wish, you can do your activities on your own at any time in August, or you can join us for any of our in-person gatherings which can be found here, or you could do a mix of both! The beauty in the Cross for LifeFlight is the flexibility and accessibility for all. 

Are there any special perks to being on the Grateful Patient team?
Yes! We will celebrate and honor our patients and their family members in various exciting and meaningful ways. 

How many miles will you Cross this August?

To help you pick your mission, we are thrilled to provide OPTIONAL in-person events to the month-long self-led Cross.

Check back for updates on this year's events!

Since 1998, LifeFlight has cared for more than 40,000 patients and the need for our service continues to grow. The reach and relevance of LifeFlight’s mission is more important now than ever before. We safely care for those who are critically ill or injured, while also transporting patients of all ages—from premature infants and critically injured children, to adults and seniors who need specialty care. The calls for help come from all points in Maine—from the mountains to the lakes and coastal islands, from highways, trails, main streets, and, importantly, from hospital to hospital.

LifeFlight helicopters, airplane, and specialty ground ambulances are equipped as fully functioning mobile intensive care units, bringing advanced skills, medical technology, pharmacy, blood, and more—directly to a patient’s side.

Our iconic helicopters provide far more than just critical care transport. For LifeFlight patients, every minute matters. Their chances of survival and quality of life after a traumatic event depends on our ability to safely traverse Maine’s vast expanse, rugged terrain, and challenging weather. Getting a patient quickly into the care of a LifeFlight crew gives them the best chance to “overcome the geography of time.” We make second chances possible.

To visit the LifeFlight of Maine website, click here. 

All participants receive an amazing Participant Kit - valued at $100.

Check back soon to see what is included in this year's kit!

Here is your participant guide. 

When you register for the Cross for LifeFlight, you are signing up for a fundraising mission! Your commitment contributes to the LifeFlight of Maine's mission; a place in which every person, in every community, has access to critical care and medical transport when they need it. 

In 2021, we the introduced our top fundraising club, which we call Peak Performers. To be a part of this elite club, participants need to surpass $4,000 in total individual fundraising by September 15. Thanks to our generous partners, our Peak Performers have the option to choose a special piece of gear. We look forward to welcoming even more participants, including you, into the Peak Performers Club in 2026!  

Safety Overview

Check out these great paddling safety tips by our partner Maine Sport

se common sense and know the area around you.  If you're swimming in a pool make sure you have permission. It's always a good idea to rinse off and follow the pool's procedures before starting your swim. If you're kayaking, go with a friend or buddy. Always wear your PFD, have a whistle, know how to self rescue, or swim to shore.  Join a paddling group like Southern Maine Sea Kayaking Network (www.smskn.net) and file a float plan. 

For open water crossings, here are a number of steps to keep you safe.

(https://www.swimoutlet.com/guides/safety-tips-for-open-water-swimming)

Practice in a Pool

Obviously, it’s best to learn how to swim in the relative calm of your local pool. That’s a good place to start learning three key open water swimming skills: sighting, bilateral breathing, and a “choppy-water” freestyle.
 

Don’t Go Alone

Let’s start with the obvious: Never swim or paddle in open water by yourself. Having a fellow swimmer is one way to fulfill this most-basic safety measure, but they will be of little help if you encounter an unexpected current or creature of the deep. Better than a fellow swimmer is a friend in a kayak or a power boat. Know only land-lubbers? Have someone walk the shoreline with you, if water and weather conditions allow it. If disaster strikes, this person can go for help. If you're paddling, even with a buddy, file a float plan. Let a trusted friend or family member know where you're going, when you'll be back and what they should do if you don't check-in on time.
 

Know Your Currents

Hot Tip: Back to Shore

How to escape a rip current: If you are swimming and suddenly find the shoreline getting farther and farther away, you are caught in a rip current: a channel of water flowing away from the shore. If you want to make it back to shore, the only thing to do is swim PARALLEL with the shore. Once you are out of the rip current, you can turn toward land and swim to solid ground. 

 
Swiftly moving water can pull you astray, potentially miles off-shore, off-target, or even swimming underwater. In many popular open water swim locations, currents are infamous for their strength and speed. In other places, you may need to do some asking around to find out about water conditions, which can change hourly.
 

Check the Water Temperature

Most pools are between 79 and 85 degrees. Most bodies of water are not that warm. Water that is 70 degrees Fahrenheit doesn’t sound that cold (heck, your thermostat is probably set around 68), but it really is, and water in Maine can be much colder. If you are not going to be in cold water that long, you might be okay without a wetsuit. Just beware that you are at risk for suffering from hypothermia, and should know the symptoms. If you're paddling, know that you may end up in the water. Wear your PFD and dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature.
 

Check the Weather

Many other weather factors can affect conditions in the water. Wind can create “chop,” or surface waves. Stormwater runoff can alter temperature and water clarity. Warm springtime weather can cause cold, deep, fast-moving water even into the summer months. Storms can rise up quickly, know where you can go and land in a kayak to avoid a storm before it hits. Find out how local weather conditions are affecting water conditions where you want to swim or paddle.
 

Know Your Sea Creatures

Find out what creatures you are likely (or even unlikely) to encounter on your swim. Research if the bay is home to any sharks (some sharks are completely harmless to humans), jellyfish, or nettles. 

Hot Tip: Afraid of Sharks 

Sharks don’t want to eat you: Many people cite a "fear of sharks" as the main reason they don't swim in open water. The truth is that your odds of being killed by a shark are very, very, very small. While there are over 350 kinds of shark, fewer than 10 have been involved in a significant number of attacks on humans. And many of those attacks were either provoked or a case of mistaken identity. 

 
Think little too: find out if there are unacceptable levels of bacteria. Many beaches are actually closed to swimming after rainstorms because of dangerous levels of bacteria that arrive with the stormwater runoff. Some lakes do not allow swimming, but paddling is ok. Some parts of lakes are closed off to any human presence. Make a mental plan for what you can do if you encounter any of the local wildlife. 
 

Have a "Plan A"

Figure out where you are planning to go on your swim or paddle. Is it point-to-point or an out-and-back adventure? How long? Whatever your answer, have a plan and know the route. Most importantly, familiarize yourself not only with water conditions, but also with the shoreline. Particularly if you are swimming or paddling point-to-point, check the exit point, and make sure you can actually get out of the water there! 
 

Have a "Plan B"

Before you set off, have a plan for exiting the water if conditions (or you) deteriorate. Expect that unexpected things may happen.  No matter what happens, your plan B will help keep you safe. This is where the friend in a power boat can be handy if you're swimming or knowing what the conditions could be like when you return to the beach from your paddle. A calm beach can have breaking waves as the weather or tide changes. If you're swimming, just climb in the boat if conditions are that bad, and you’ll be on your way to solid ground in no time. The closer you stay to shore, the more options you will have, especially if the shore is exit-able for the entire length of your crossing.
 

Check In with the Lifeguards

At some open water swimming areas, local jurisdictions have lifeguards on duty. Tell the lifeguards what you are doing. Not only might they be able to come to your rescue if you get caught in a current, but you’ll also ensure that they won’t come racing out to “save” you when they see you swimming somewhere they wouldn’t expect you to be. The added bonus of checking in with the lifeguards is that they will have up-to-date information on weather and currents. In other locations like public parks, tell the rangers where you're paddling.
 

Keep It Simple

Even if you are feeling unafraid of the unpredictability of open water, and you're new to open water swimming or paddling, start off easy on your first swim or voyage. Gain experience with some easy swims (back-and-forth along a lifeguarded beach, for example), so that when you encounter your first open-water problem/challenge, the stakes aren’t life-threateningly high. If you are feeling nervous and scared about your first open water foray, try to find a place with calm water where you can swim or paddle parallel to shore. 

Safety First

Always remember the number one rule of open water swimming: never, ever swim alone. If you keep to these 10 safety tips, you should have fun, empowering open water swims.
 

We are so grateful for our generous sponsors! 
Please contact Ashley MacMillan, Director of Annual Giving, for detailed information about 2022 sponsorship opportunities: amacmillan@lifeflightmaine.org or 207-230-7092.
 
Beacon Sponsors
         

 
Hope Sponsors
     

 
 
Inspire Sponsors
      

     
 
Support Sponsors
   

We are pleased to offer a variety of sponsorship opportunities starting at $500. Sponsorships offer affiliation with LifeFlight, recognized internationally for safety, innovation, and leadership in emergency medicine and critical care transport; broad exposure across the state of Maine through multiple media channels including TV, web, social media, and print; and the opportunity to build relationships and engage with participants and other sponsors through multiple digital platforms.

The businesses and organizations that sponsor us provide critical funds that support LifeFlight’s mission.

Please contact Ashley MacMillan, Director of Annual Giving, for detailed information about sponsorship opportunities: amacmillan@lifeflight.me or 207-357-5508.