/

Local Northern Lights Team ready for Trek Across Maine this weekend

5 mins read
“Northern Lights Team members, from left to right, Ryan Haszko, Peter Couture, Max Richard, Chris Marshall, Matt Allen, Andrew Haszko, Dennis Haszko, Joel Chandler, Eliza Richard, Peter Broderick, Maureen McCool, and Sandy Richard.  (Members not present:  Thomas Marshall, Tom Marshall, Amelia McKenney, Dick Mckenney, Michael McMahon, Andrew Robinson, Zeke Robinson, Kevin Tompkins, and Tina Trevino)  (Photo by Todd Richard)
Northern Lights Team members, from left to right: Ryan Haszko, Peter Couture, Max Richard, Chris Marshall, Matt Allen, Andrew Haszko, Dennis Haszko, Joel Chandler, Eliza Richard, Peter Broderick, Maureen McCool, and Sandy Richard. Members not present: Thomas Marshall, Tom Marshall, Amelia McKenney, Dick McKenney, Michael McMahon, Andrew Robinson, Zeke Robinson, Kevin Tompkins, and Tina Trevino. (Photo by Todd Richard)

FARMINGTON – Members of the Northern Lights Trek Team are ready for the upcoming benefit cycling ride, Trek Across Maine. The Trek is a 180-mile bike ride fundraiser that is spread across three days that begins on June 13. The first overnight stop is Farmington where more than 2,000 cyclists and support crew spend their first night. The Trek raises funds for the American Lung Association of Maine (ALAM) to help save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research.

Team members will be riding wearing especially made green and yellow jerseys, thanks to the sponsorship of Northern Lights Hearth and Sports, Franklin Savings Bank, Stone Hearth Café, and Foothills Management.

“The uniforms look great and really make the team come together as a group,”  said the team’s captain Dennis Haszko of Farmington. “I’m hoping for a good crowd of local support to turn out when the Northern Lights Team pulls into Farmington on day one of the trek.”  The team is expected to arrive at first leg’s finish in the High Street parking lot next to the student center on the University of Maine at Farmington campus between noon and 1 p.m. this Friday.

The Northern Lights Team includes 21 riders from the Farmington area or those who have ties to Farmington. Although they vary in an age range of over 60 years, one thing they all enjoy is fresh air and cycling. Many members have been personally touched by lung disease including asthma, pneumonia, and cancer.

“Several close relatives died of lung cancer before I graduated from high school,” said team member Matt Allen. “Two of them had been exposed to a variety of environmental toxins, and cigarettes throughout their shortened lives.”  Allen joined the Trek this year after riding in another shorter annual fundraiser in Lewiston for the last five years.

“My first fundraising ride was personal thing, in honor of my brother, who had been diagnosed with cancer the year previously, and was fighting valiantly for his life, a fight that he lost in March of 2008.” Allen’s personal mission came even closer to home in March 2013 when he was struck with a pulmonary embolism. “I had clots in my left lung, and the nine months of follow up care got me back on my feet, on my bike, and cleared for vigorous work outs again. I felt it was time to give the Trek a try, both as a goal to achieve and as a practical, far reaching cause to support.”

Others on the team ride for either someone they know or just to support good lung habits.

“I like supporting ALAM and especially the work they do around tobacco,” said team member Sandy Richard. “Despite the fact that a cigarette, used as intended is known to cause harm at so many levels, it is still used by way too many people, too many young people are getting addicted, and too many innocent children are being affected. They work tirelessly against the big tobacco companies.”

As of June 9, the team’s fundraising site showed they had achieved $7,870 in donations. Each adult is required to raise $500 in order to participate, and youths $400 each.

To help support the team, donations can be made by going to their page here.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

2 Comments

  1. Hoping for a safe, fun, enjoyable ride for all the particpants and a special shout out to the Northern Lights team.
    I would like to also take this opportunity to thank Todd, Marty, Mike, Matt, Josh and all the team who have given me exemplary service for 11 years now after purchasing my first adult bike.
    Keep up the good work and have a great day.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.