Local Filmmaker To Join Local Logger In Run To Raise $ For Kids

Jeremy T. Grant runs a local film and media company based out of midcoast Maine called The Timbercross.  Known for his travel series, Discover Maine, which features amazing videography and drone footage of spots across our state, Grant often produces videos with captivating sounds, scenes and stories set right here in our backyard.

"Over the last couple of years, I've been traveling all over the state. My mission is to highlight incredible people and incredible places and inspire people just to get out and explore and experience it themselves."

But this weekend, he'll be doing more than just documenting an impressive tale; he'll be joining in it himself. Grant, who has never run a marathon before, got the idea that he wanted to participate in one this year, so he started looking around at his options.

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"This is kind of one of those what I would call 'A Mainer Moment'...We were gonna try the MDI Marathon, which I was dreading and I had not trained for and it was canceled. And then I saw the Millinocket Marathon. And to me that's just always been the most 'Maine' marathon there could be. There's this incredible town, and under hard times, when the mill closed, what do they do? They find a way to join together in a massive celebration to help each other in some of the coldest temperatures!"

Talking with a buddy of his, Grant decided he wanted to give the Millinocket Marathon a go. He asked his friend if they knew of anyone who would let him join along for the run? The friend mentioned he knew of someone, but there was a catch; this man runs the marathon with a chainsaw.

"Come to find out this incredible gentleman named Mike Thurlow, who has been a logger for 45 years, he got the idea about 4 or 5 years ago, to run the half-marathon with a chainsaw. He was like 'I've carried this chainsaw in the woods for this long. What's another 13.1 miles?' And he said he would do it if he could raise at least a thousand dollars for children here in Maine. And sure enough, he did it. And it's inspired another generation. He's now at the stage where he doesn't think he's going to be able to do it again. This is gonna be his last year. So his son is going to attempt to run it with him as well."

Grant loved this story and idea so much, he traveled to Lee, Maine and met Thurlow in the woods, and asked him if he could be a part of his team. Thurlow said yes, and now Grant is making a mad dash to get the word out and drum up support for this endeavor.

"I'm going to attempt to complete the first full marathon with the chainsaw, and document the whole event, to try to hopefully bring attention to it, so we can keep this tradition alive; so every December we can carry some chainsaws and help a whole bunch of kids. "

Grant will be running with Thurlow, to help raise money for the Maine Make-A-Wish Foundation. Thurlow will not only be carrying his chainsaw but will be sporting full logging gear along the route. Grant will be carrying one of Thurlow's chainsaws and carrying his camera gear.

"It's broken up a little bit, into two sections. There's gonna be about a 6-mile section that we'll be running through town, and then there's about a 6 mile stretch through The Golden Road."

Their goal this year is to raise $20,000: enough money to grant a few wishes for some deserving Maine kids and their families. Grant hopes getting the word out about Thurlow's run will help him exceed that goal.

"I just want to blow $20,000 that out of the water and I just want to make this man's day and I want to change some of these kids' lives."

You can click here to donate to the cause.

While the Millinocket Marathon is set to take place this coming weekend, Saturday, December 4th, the fundraising link should be up for another week or so past that date. Grant says if you do make it to Millinocket for the Marathon, make sure you snap some pictures, spread the word, and stop by to say hello.

"It's just such a blessing to be able to just get out there in the Maine elements and be able to share it with everyone... I have no idea what to expect except lots of pain and lots of smiling."

Best of luck to Grant and Thurlow this weekend! Keep an eye out for them both.