Fundraiser to benefit teen's ambassador trip

RUMFORD – With community support and a lot of fundraising work, Rebecca Maifeld is nearly half way to collecting the $6,900 she needs to help pay for an educational and overseas community service trip this summer.

Last August, Maifeld, 14, a Rumford freshman at SAD 43’s Mountain Valley High School, was nominated by a teacher to participate in the People to People Ambassador program.

As a student ambassador, Maifeld will represent Maine and the nation while traveling to Italy and Greece for 19 days in July.

Interested in architecture and constructing buildings, she also wants to gain a greater understanding of people and world cultures while promoting world peace.

The People to People program grooms students by providing international travel and educational experiences.

Early Tuesday afternoon, Maifeld and her father, Rumford police Cpl. Doug Maifeld visited area businesses, handing out flyers touting Rebecca Maifeld’s latest fundraiser: Five hours of laser tag, rock climbing and bowling for $20 from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday at the BIG Adventure Center on Route 2 in Bethel.

“Hopefully, this will be a big help,” Doug Maifeld said. “Twenty dollars for all of that is a good deal.”

The $20 entry fee will go to Rebecca Maifeld for her trip. So far, Doug Maifeld said his daughter has raised $3,200.

“She’s also planning a spaghetti dinner at the (Rumford) Eagles Club and a car wash in the spring, so, we’re getting there,” he said.

For more information, contact Rebecca Maifeld at 364-4841 or [email protected]