Father’s Day weekend Trek to benefit Lung Association
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
A local group of bicyclists will be joining hundreds of others from across the state spending Father’s Day weekend taking part in the 27th annual Trek Across Maine benefiting the American Lung Association.
Participants have been busy this spring raising money to help those who suffer from lung disease today and to help stop the spread of lung disease tomorrow. Among the fund-raising efforts was the fourth annual Chili Challenge, held during the Kiwanis Club’s Home and Recreation Show.
“Georgina Schriff and I made about 150 of those tortilla cups to serve the chili in; folks seemed to really enjoy that. Participants included: Wade Bright; Presque Isle Kiwanis Club; Chops Ahoy; Mark and Heather Fullen; Governor’s Restaurant of Presque Isle with two entries, including a white chili; Lisa Prescott; Boondocks of Fort Fairfield; Crow’s Nest — Joe the Crow being chef; and Loretta Harmon,” said Penny McHatten, a Kiwanis Club member who’ll be marking her 16th year participating in the trek, a fundraiser she says is “near and dear to her heart,” since she herself has asthma and understands what it’s like to have a lung disorder.
Each person taking part in the trek is required to raise a minimum of $500. McHatten said she is part of group called Team Mojo that is working together to raise the funds needed for the team to participate. According to the website www.lungusa.org/associations/charters/new-england/events/cycle/trek-across-maine, Team Mojo is captained by Kyle Washington and consists of 30 members, including: Kyle Washington, Melanie Stewart, Karen Boutot, Stephanie Caverhill, Troy Caverhill, Andrew Coiley, Catherine Donovan, Jacqueline Eye, Mark Fullen, Cary Grant, Loretta Harmon, Daniel Jandreau, Madison Jandreau, Stacy Jandreau, Brent Jepson, Jonathan Kelley, Paul Lamoreau, Lindsey Mattila, Deborah McGann, Penny McHatten, Brent McKeen, Patsy Morin, Norman Page, Georgina Schriff, John Tewksbury, Ryan Washington, Bonnie Wood, Stephen Wood and Denise Young.
McHatten said the Chili Challenged helped raise over $400, including a donation by the Crow’s Nest of $1 for every bowl of chili they sold to add to the team’s total.
“It will all go to the Lung Association of Maine — toward the Mojo team’s monetary requirement to participate,” she said.
This marked the fourth year the Chili Challenge has been held to raise funds for the effort.
“This was an excellent year for us — the most (Chili Challenge) participants we’ve ever had. As far as I know, everyone who tried any of the many varieties was more than happy,” said McHatten.
McHatten said all types were “pretty much traditional, except the Kiwanis one which was without beans.”
“The Crow’s Nest was three meat — beef, pork and chicken; the one from Lisa Prescott was the ‘heart healthy’ — no fat and no meat; some of them had more veggies than others, and a few, like Boondock’s and Mr. Bright’s, were very tomatoee,” said McHatten. “The one that Mark and Heather contributed was red kidney beans, with lots and lots of hamburg and the usual spices. And as I mentioned, the one Kiwanis entered — mine — was made with meat from The Chopping Block, which I think contributed heavily to the flavor. Of course, the beer in mine might have been a factor too!”
McHatten said the group has done this as one of its fundraisers for the past four years and find it a fun way to come up with the money needed for the trek.
The team still has a way to go to reach their goal. To date they’ve raised just over $9,720. For everyone to take part in this weekend’s ride, they need to reach $15,000. Pledges can be made by visiting the above address or contacting any of the participants. The group is one of the largest teams of the 145 listed. Friday, June 17, riders will begin at the start line at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, with the goal of crossing the finish line on Sunday, June 19, in Belfast.
For more information, call 624-0302 or e-mail gauclair@lungme.org.
