Ride benefits summer camp
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg
RIDING THROUGH AROOSTOOK — From left, Beth Ann Chamberlain of Caribou, Kyle Washington of Presque Isle, Brent Grass of Mars Hill and Sarah Gahagan of Presque Isle head onto Fort Street in Caribou from the East Presque Isle Road during the first leg of Saturday’s Ride Aroostook tour. The second annual event drew 90 cyclists and served as a successful fundraiser for Camp Adventure, a residential summer camp for youth with Type 1 diabetes.
PRESQUE ISLE — Despite threatening weather on both days, a local cycling tour of central Aroostook County that raised money for a summer camp for diabetic youths proved to be a successful event.
Molly Hamel, a Presque Isle native now residing in Windsor, Conn., has her bicycle checked out by volunteer Mike Smith at the Ride Aroostook rest stop in Caribou. 
Hamel was one of 90 cyclists to register for the fundraiser, which benefits Camp Aroostook, a residential summer camp for youth with Type I diabetes.
The second annual Ride Aroostook took place Saturday and Sunday. The first day featured a ride to Caribou and back and a ride to Fort Fairfield and back totaling 65 miles. On the second day, also approximately 65 miles in length, riders journeyed around Mapleton for the first part and into Mars Hill and back to round out the tour.
Co-director Bill Flagg said this year’s ride included 90 registered cyclists, which was an increase of approximately 20 from the inaugural event.
According to Kim Parent, who handled registrations during the weekend, many were local, but some bicyclists came from as far away as Wisconsin, Maryland, Texas, Connecticut and New Hampshire and there were also those representing the central and southern Maine towns of Auburn, Bar Harbor, Brunswick, Cumberland, Kennebunk, New Gloucester, Portland, Rockland, Scarborough and Yarmouth.
“So many of our riders just couldn’t stop talking about how incredible the scenery is and the experience encourages them to come back to The County for extended vacations and bring their families,” Flagg said. “We really do have a ‘best kept secret’ here in Aroostook and this ride is really a showcase for the region.”
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg
Cyclists take off from the University of Maine at Presque Isle during the first leg of Ride Aroostook on Saturday. 
Ninety people registered for the event, which served as a fundraiser for Camp Adventure, a residential summer camp for youth with Type I diabetes.
Flagg said he was impressed with the growth and sees great potential for future rides.
“This was a wonderful event,” said Flagg, who modeled the ride after similar cycling tours held around Maine. “We had so many positive comments about the scenery, the volunteers and how well it was organized. So many people said they would be back next year and bring their friends.”
The weather was anticipated to be a factor over the weekend but only brief periods of showers actually were realized. Karen Boutot, co-director of the event, said that some people scheduled to travel from a distance canceled their registration due to weather predictions.
“We would have topped 100 riders if the weather predictions had not been so dire,” said Boutot, who organizes rest areas, food and other aspects of the two-day event. “We clearly have a winning project and we anticipate even bigger numbers next year.”
The University of Maine at Presque Isle served as headquarters for the event, serving as the start and finish for all four portions of the tour while also housing cyclists and hosting meals and entertainment held throughout the weekend.
Loring Job Corps provided a bulk of the volunteer base, with many of the center’s students dressing up in Hawaiian costumes and adding a lot of energy and fun throughout the course.
“I’m sure they got some funny looks from passers-by who didn’t know about the event, but it gave us the smiles needed to tackle some of the hilliest terrain Aroostook County has to offer,” said one of the riders, Adam Murchison of Mapleton.
Another important factor of the event is the design of the cycling route, which was headed up by Jonathan Kelley. The route brings riders through some of the most beautiful vistas that Aroostook County has to offer.
“We tried to create a route that really showcased The County but that was comfortable enough for the average cyclist to complete,” said Kelley. “We have a very diverse group of riders, from avid riding clubs to individuals who ride occasionally, and they all seemed to complete the ride without too much difficulty. Over and over again, riders spoke of the scenery, the safety and the challenge of the route.”
Shawn Berry of Caribou has ridden in both Ride Aroostook events and really enjoys tackling the course.
“The four loops that we traveled were some of the most scenic is Aroostook County and most of the roads are quiet and open,” Berry said. “There’s something about being on a group ride with people and hearing the conversation and laugher while you talk with people you may or may not know. Sometimes all you hear is the wind through your ears and the sound of the tires on road while you soak up the view.”
It was Murchison’s first Ride Aroostook and he was impressed with the organization of the event.
“The sign-in was smooth, the rest stops were well-stocked and well-run, the tent at UMPI was always manned with refreshments and the check points were staffed on time,” said Murchison, who was joined on the ride by his wife, Vicky. “The sweep vehicle drivers were fantastic, combing the course diligently to ensure safety and help with any repairs needed, and the checkpoint volunteers were fantastic, making sure we stayed on course.”
Major sponsors for Ride Aroostook are Cary Medical Center, the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation and Fairpoint Communications. A number of other sponsors also contribute to the event. Flagg said that without sponsorships, the event would not be possible.
“This is a major undertaking and involves considerable financial commitment,” said Flagg, who leads the fund-raising element of the ride. “We are so grateful to our major sponsors and to the more than two dozen contributing businesses, organizations and individuals. I believe this event could become one of the largest single-event fundraisers in the County and for this to happen we need this kind of sponsorship.”
More than $10,000 was raised to benefit Camp Adventure, a summer residential camp for children with Type I diabetes.
Rob Kieffer became involved with Camp Adventure by serving as the registered Maine Guide 15 years ago.
“This year sitting around a campfire in June at Camp Adventure, I had suggested to a few campers that I would ride with anybody who would commit to supporting the event,” Kieffer said. “Several committed and we rode along with Dr. Mark Henderson, an endocrinologist from Bangor area who also has helped with the camp over the years.”
Kieffer was touched by one of the comments overheard from one of the Camp Adventure students participating in the ride.
“One of the coolest things I heard all weekend is one of our campers made a comment to another camper while riding that ‘on days like this, I don’t feel like I have diabetes.’ As a supporter of the camp over the years, it really was an emotional comment.”
