Staff Writer
CARIBOU — For the seventh straight year, AMHC has broken its own fund-raising record, with this year’s Andy Santerre Sno-Run, dinner and auction besting last year’s total raised by about $3,000. This year’s proceeds topped $50,000 — bringing the seven-year total raised to well over $200,000.
On Feb. 12 Andy Santerre, NASCAR’s four-time champion and Maine native son, joined with AMHC and community supporters at the seventh annual Sno-Run, raising money for AMHC’s Sexual Assault Services, a victim rape crisis center in Aroostook County dedicated to providing victim advocacy, awareness and community education about the violent crime of sexual assault.
“The purpose of the event was to raise awareness and money for AMHC’s sexual assault victim services in The County. The services benefit anyone in need of help and support — whether it be a family member, neighbor or total stranger — enabling easy access to services that are free and confidential,” said Lorraine Chamberlain, LCSW, AMHC’s director of emergency services and co-organizer for the annual event, held at the Caribou Inn & Convention Center.
Organizers Joe Chamberlain and Greg Disy, AMHC’s CEO, agreed it was “humbling to see so many people come out for such a great cause.”
“More than 110 sledders participated in the Sno-Run, led by Andy. Dave Moreau, of County Sports Polaris (located in Caribou) provided Andy and guest NASCAR driver Michael Cherry with new Polaris snowmobiles to ride at the event,” said Joe Chamberlain, noting the 100-mile sled ride was quoted by participants as being “awesome.”
“It’s my pleasure to lend my name and support to such a worthy cause,” said Santerre.
This marked Cherry’s first time to Maine, but it probably won’t be his last.
“I like it here. It’s my first time in the state. I saw the ice bar up in Fort Kent. I love it here. I told Andy to put me down for next year,” said Cherry, of North Carolina.
Riders registered poolside at the Caribou Inn Saturday morning, then headed out, led by Santerre, destined for lunch and a photo op in Chapman.
“Along the course of the Sno-Run, the Chapman Ridge Runners hosted a sledders’ lunch at the new clubhouse before the return ride to Caribou. During the run, Paul Cyr of Northern Maine Photos took shots of riders who, with the help of the Chapman Ridge Runners, arranged their snowmobiles in a snowy field to illustrate a unique design of the word ‘Maine’ outlined by the shape of Aroostook County to commemorate the ride. Gene Lynch II piloted the plane to get the flyover shots,” said Joe Chamberlain.
It took over 130 snowmobiles to create the design. The idea originated with a similar photo shoot two years ago, when riders formed the word “Maine” in an oval. The photo hit the Internet and folks from all over quickly took notice.
Once back in Caribou, participants gathered for an autograph session, just prior to the dinner and auction.
“Trent Burgay served as the DJ for an autograph session/social hour with Santerre and 320 participants at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center,” said Disy.
Lorraine and her husband Joe Chamberlain thanked the many individuals, local businesses, Santerre and his many NASCAR friends who donated NASCAR memorabilia and other items to the auction and who participated in the event. Steve Richard once again served as the charity auctioneer and outdid himself by rallying auction participants to raise $13,497 in auction proceeds alone.
For the 2011 Sno-Run, many thanks were extended to event sponsors, including KeyBank, which donated $5,000 toward the cause. Numerous other businesses were also thanked for making this year’s fundraiser a huge success.
“Through their collaboration with AMHC and ASM-Motorsports, the event is growing each year. AMHC would like to extend a special thanks to the Sign Place in Presque Isle who have supported this event from its inception and was able to once again design and share at the auction several banners that represented the day’s event, inclusive of the aerial photo,” said Joe Chamberlain.
Proceeds from the annual fundraiser are used to assist local victims of sexual assault.
“As the sexual assault services provider in Aroostook County, all of the monies raised by the Sno-Run fundraiser specifically provide services for youth, free of charge, to support education and safety training to help prevent a traumatic event and, if an event occurs, to provide support and advocacy for youth victims of sexual assault and their families,” said Disy.
Continuing funding cutbacks have put many programs at risk of elimination, said Lorraine Chamberlain. That’s why the Sno-Run is so important to AMHC’s continuing efforts to provide services to those in need.
“A major result of this year’s Sno-Run fundraiser is that it will help AMHC sexual assault services to achieve its goal of continuing to increase youth awareness and access to the free service. The success of the Sno-Run event speaks volumes about how much Aroostook County residents value the service,” said Disy.
This year’s event exceeded expectations.
“One of the 2011 goals was to meet or exceed what was raised in 2010, which was done because again the residents of Aroostook, the state and several from outside of the state, have provided their support to do so,” said Joe Chamberlain, noting, “AMHC says a hardy thank-you” to those who made this year’s event a huge success.
AMHC Sexual Assault Services is a member of the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault, also known as MECASA, and serves as the sexual assault crisis and support center for Aroostook County. The service mission is to put an end to sexual assault and sexual abuse in Aroostook County. For more information, call AMHC’s Sexual Assault Services toll-free at 800-550-3304 to learn about how you too can get involved with the annual Sno-Run event or to provide funding support.
AMHC is a nonprofit organization with 20 service sites located across Aroostook, Washington and Hancock counties. AMHC has been developing and providing mental health, substance abuse and rehabilitation services since 1964.
