Fill a Boat
Motivated by the experience of her daughter-in-law, Rotarian Nancy Corliss has focused her own efforts on fundraising against cancer. Since 2012, Nancy has embodied Rotary motto of “being a gift to the world,” as she organizes Fill a Boat for Stand up To Cancer.
When her daughter-in-law began fundraising for cancer for others, Nancy wanted to be part of that effort, which she explained one day to Gary Fagan of Acadian Nature Cruises.
“He said, ‘Fill a boat,’” Nancy recalls. “I said, ‘What?’ And he said, ‘Fill my boat.’”
So they did. For the past three years, Fagan has donated a 100-passenger boat for a two-hour cruise around Frenchman Bay. People buy tickets, listen to music, stare at the fall foliage, and seals, all while helping to fight against cancer. All of the proceeds go to Stand Up To Cancer - Team Joyful Hope.
It is BYOB, and yes, people do bring wine and beer. Nancy arranges for a band, and MDI High School Interact club kids help serve food. There are door prize drawings and lots of folks sharing their friendship and stories of dealing with cancer. There is never anyone on the trip that has not been faced with cancer issues.
Edited from an article written by Rotarian Carrie Jones, which appeared in the Bangor Daily News on August 14, 2015.