The 2022 Miss Maine Young Teen Young American Woman of Service is taking on a new title of Standard Bearer for the tournament. Every year, patients are selected to represent each Shriners Children’s location as Standard Bearers at the Shriners Children's Open. In this role, Maddie will have an “inside the ropes” experience at a PGA TOUR event, helping to carry the scores of professional golfers competing in the tournament. The Open takes place October 9 – 15, 2023. “I was so honored to be asked to represent Shriners Children’s Boston at the Open,” Maddie said. “In my almost 15 years of life, I have never left the East Coast, so I'm really looking forward to seeing how it is on the other side of the country!”
When she was 10, Maddie’s hand was sucked underneath a treadmill. The result was a serious friction burn on her hand. Her doctor, Robert L. Sheridan, M.D., chief of staff and director of the burn service at Shriners Children’s Boston, explained that treadmill injuries are very complicated because of the damage to the bone and the small blood vessels in the impacted area. Depending on the size of the friction burn, treatment varies for patients. In Maddie’s case, the care team decided not to operate, but rather treated her injury with rehabilitation and scar management.
“My main goal in being a Patient Ambassador is to educate parents and kids about the overlooked dangers of treadmills,” Maddie explained. She said treadmills are a common piece of equipment in so many homes, and if not stored or used properly, they can cause damage in a matter of seconds. “I’m also able to share my first-hand experience of being part of the outpatient program and proudly show how Shriners has helped my injury heal,” she said. “It is an honor to help play a small part in sharing what remarkable things have happened and can happen at Shriners Children’s Boston.”
My main goal in being a Patient Ambassador is to educate parents and kids about the overlooked dangers of treadmills.
Maddie, a high school freshman, lives in Maine with her family. In 2020, Maddie founded Brave Bees, a nonprofit organization committed to spreading kindness and ending bullying.
She loves the summer months when she can enjoy fishing, swimming in the lake and amusement park rides. Although her fun in the sun was delayed this year because of the wet New England weather, she didn’t let that dampen her spirits. “Once the summer sun was finally shining, we spent a lot of days at the lake!” Maddie said. She even made the trip to Canobie Lake Park in New Hampshire, to ride the upside down roller coasters, which are her all-time favorite. “I was sad to see summer come to an end,” Maddie explained. “But I started off my freshman year of high school as a member of our varsity football cheer team!”
This October is one Maddie will remember forever. There are two big events on the horizon: her first high school homecoming and a Standard Bearer experience. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent Shriners Children’s Boston in Las Vegas,” said Maddie. “I’m beyond excited! I’m going to be sharing this experience with my grandmother who I call Memere,” Maddie said. “Every time we see each other, it’s all we talk about! We're in the final stretch and I'm counting down the days.”
The Shriners Children’s Open will air on the Golf Channel, reaching over 700 million homes across the globe.
Maddie offered her best wishes to all the golfers at the Open. “A professional golf tournament will be a completely new experience for me. Best of luck to all of the players!”
Pictured: Maddie outside. Maddie loves being outdoors on sunny summer days.
Pictured: Maddie wearing her crown. Maddie was the 2022 Miss Maine Young Teen Young American Woman of Service winner.
Pictured: Young Maddie on softball field. Maddie was excited to get back to her favorite activities after her injury.
