AUBURN, Maine — Damon Crouse kicked off a ski run Thursday afternoon like dozens of others at Lost Valley, but he wasn't going home after a few hours of fun. He was embarking on a self-inflicted 24-hour ski marathon, for a charity near and dear to his heart.
Using a fabric called "skins" on the tips of his skis to prevent him from slipping, he hiked up the mountain and skied back down. Throughout the 24 hours, he made that climb over 50 times.
“I’m definitely sore and hurting in areas but overall doing very good,” Crouse said at the 20-hour mark.
Crouse came up with the idea for the ski marathon to raise money for The Root Cellar — an organization he works with, connecting at-risk youth with career skills — Most kids in the organization live in Lewiston’s Tree Streets neighborhood, a lower-income area.
“A lot of these kids get their first opportunity to ski through The Root Cellar,” Crouse said.
In addition to sports, Course said kids at The Root Cellar receive career guidance and life coaching.
“It’s special in that it’s providing them with a sense of community and family they may not have,” he said.
Crouse got more than 80 people to pledge money for his ski-marathon. The Root Cellar estimated they raised more than $24,000.
“It’s been incredible to receive their support from this; providing teens with jobs is not inexpensive,” Crouse said.
Joel Furrow, executive director for The Root Cellar, said Damon’s pledge to ski for 24 hours was in line with his character.
“I am amazed by his faithfulness and his work ethic…it’s his tenacity and his creative approach which does not surprise me at all and it translates to the work he does with our teens as well,” Furrow said.
As Crouse came into the final hours, teenagers involved in the organization both past and present, showed up and welcomed Crouse during his final run.
Teenagers, adults, and volunteers joined hands in a tunnel for Crouse to finish his final descent. He was tired. He told us for hours how much he was hurting. But through it all, he was smiling.
“Doing hard things is worth it…it’s been incredible to receive their support through this,” Crouse said.