The North Country Chapter of the American Red Cross will host its annual Fire + Ice event on Saturday, April 22 at the West Side Ballroom in Plattsburgh. For the second consecutive year, the 2017 Fire + Ice program will feature a “Real Hero” awards presentation in which several outstanding North Country citizens will be honored as community heroes.

Jayden Chase, a seventh-grade student at Northern Adirondack Middle School, will be honored with the Youth Good Samaritan Award for saving a fellow student from choking in the school cafeteria last year. Jayden was eating lunch with his friend, Alexis Belrose, when he noticed her choking. He immediately sprang into action, performing abdominal thrusts until the piece of food stuck in Alexis’ throat was dislodged. Jayden had just recently learned the lifesaving technique from his parents. Now, both he and Alexis encourage everyone to learn it. 

Corporal Craig Hilchey of the Plattsburgh Police Department will receive the Law Enforcement Award for lifesaving actions performed earlier this year. On January 15, 2017, Corporal Hilchey encountered a young man who had fallen and struck his head. The man was unconscious when Corporal Hilchey arrived on the scene. He quickly called 911, and waited with the man until emergency responders arrived to transport him to the hospital. The emergency room doctor who treated the patient – suffering from a fractured skull and traumatic brain injury – credits Corporal Hilchey with saving the man’s life. If not for his quick intervention, the outcome for the patient could have been much worse.

Marcus Slick of Plattsburgh will be honored with the Good Neighbor Award. During last year’s “Ride for the Red” event supporting the American Red Cross, a participant’s motorcycle broke down and caught fire. As the fire was being put out, Marcus just happened to be driving by. He pulled over to see if the bikers needed help, and offered his own trailer to transport the broken down motorcycle to the shop. Marcus was simply passing by, with no obligation to help the bikers on the side of the road, but he did and for that he is recognized as a Good Neighbor.

Lastly, the United Way of the Adirondack Region will be honored with the Community Hero Award. The United Way works to unite a cross section of volunteers and agencies, both public and private, in a community-wide effort to deliver needed health and human service programs across Clinton, Franklin and Essex counties. They are an outstanding partner to the American Red Cross in the North Country, and their local programs have a direct, positive impact on countless members of the community.

“We are very excited to again be honoring Real Heroes as a part of Fire and Ice,” said Jane Gendron, executive director, American Red Cross North Country Chapter. “These are individuals and organizations who have really exemplified the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross, so it seems only fitting that we celebrate their heroism at our signature event in this community.”

Tickets to Fire + Ice 2017 can be reserved online at redcross.org/NCfireandice. Proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross North Country Chapter and support local Red Cross programs and services. For more information, contact Jane Gendron at (518) 561-7280 or email jane.gendron@redcross.org.