PORTLAND, Maine — The community is rallying behind three Maine State Troopers and a trooper recruit who are on long roads to recovery after being hit by a car in Hollis in August.
Last week, Troopers David Lemieux, Jake Mowry, Dakota Stewart and Trooper recruit Shane St. Pierre spoke on camera for the first time since the incident.
On Sunday, the Trooper Black Foundation held a benefit at the Cross Insurance Arena to support the four men who are still recovering nearly three months later.
"Took a lot to get through it, but I'm glad we're all still here together," Lemieux said.
Singer Toby McAllister and the band 12/OC played at the benefit in addition to silent auctions and raffle prizes.
"Everybody's coming up to us and talking to us," Mowry said. "You can't go 10 feet without somebody coming up and introducing themselves, so it's been really nice."
Each of the troopers said they're thankful for the support they've received since the incident, but none of it was expected.
"It's pretty humbling to have this many people come out and support of all this. I know a lot of people did a lot of work to make this happen today. [I'm] very appreciative for everything that everyone's done," Stewart said.
The President of the Trooper Black Foundation, Charlie Black, said he created the nonprofit with his mother to give back to first responders in times when they face unexpected hardships.
Charlie's father, Maine State Trooper Charles Black, was killed three weeks before Charlie was born while he was responding to a bank robbery in South Berwick in 1964.
“Knowing that it's something that we’re doing together, me and my mom, in his memory and helping other first responders that need help, no doubt in my mind that he’d be happy," Charlie said.
Black said the proceeds from Sunday's event will be divided evenly between the four troopers.