CARIBOU, Maine — Several members of the Downeast Chapter of the Defenders Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club recently made the trip up Route 1 from Machias to Cary Medical Center to give a $1,000 donation to Camp Adventure.
This is the third year the Washington County Downeast Chapter has had a charity ride event to raise funds for the summer session.
Camp Adventure is a weeklong summer camp for teens with Type 1 diabetes that provides campers the opportunity to hike, camp, canoe, bike, kayak, swim and participate in other outdoor activities while helping them with monitoring and self-management of their diabetes.
“The goal of Camp Adventure is for campers to have fun while learning that diabetes doesn’t control you, but that you control diabetes,” explained Camp Coordinator and Cary Certified Diabetes Educator, Erica Ouellette, RN, BSN.
Celebrating its 20th year, Camp Adventure was held this past June at Baptist Park in Mapleton.
“We started our Charity Ride Event about six years ago, originally donating our funds to the American Diabetes Association,” explained Defenders Club President Keith Albee, “but we wanted to find something local to support. After doing some online research we found information about Camp Adventure and decided that’s what we wanted to ride for,” he said.
Keith’s wife, Susan, also a club member, has Type 1 diabetes, so their fundraising efforts have a special meaning to all those participating.
The national Defenders Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club was started in 2004 and is comprised of active and retired members of law enforcement, the military, emergency services and public safety professionals who enjoy riding motorcycles.
For more information about the club visit their Facebook page or defendersmc.com. For more information about Camp Adventure, call the Cary Medical Center Diabetes Education Office at 498-1283 or e-mail Ouellette at eoullette@carymed.org.
