Fort Kent ~ In its twenty-sixth year, the Tour de la Vallee is scheduled to run on Sunday, August 21, 2016, where it will kick off at Riverside Park in Fort Kent. Participants will have even more events to choose from this year including: four bicycle distances ranging from twenty five to one hundred miles, three walk or run events from three to ten miles, and new to the Tour this year, a thirty five mile mountain bike ride on the Heritage Trail which runs from Fort Kent to St. Francis. No matter what the preference, the event organizing committee made certain there is an option for every interest in this year’s Tour de la Vallee.
As with the bicycle routes, all walk and running routes are fully supported with rest stops that are stocked with beverages, fruit and other healthy snacks. Medical and mechanical assistance are also available along the route, however, it is recommended that riders pack a spare bicycle inner tube. Participants who register online before July 22, 2016, will receive a free T-shirt; onsite registration will be available at a fee of $30.
The Edgar J. (Guy) Paradis Cancer Fund, a service of Northern Maine Medical Center, is a nonprofit venture that provides support services to families from the St. John Valley who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis. The fund provides financial assistance for travel and lodging of family members so they may accompany the cancer patient when treatment away from the St. John Valley is necessary.
Since the Fund was started in 1978, over fourteen hundred families in the St. John Valley suffering from cancer have benefited from over $935,000 in support from the Edgar J. (Guy) Cancer Paradis Fund. Paradis Fund Treasurer and NMMC Chief Financial Officer, Cindy Daigle said, “This event is critically important in sustaining the pool of funds available to assist local families. We could not help as many people as we do without the support of our generous sponsors and volunteers.” According to Daigle, one hundred percent of all money raised from this event goes directly to support local cancer patients and their families.
For registration and event start times, go to www.paradiscancerfund.org. All participants, families and volunteers are invited to a barbecue at the finish line beginning at 11 am. For more information contact Roland Paradis at 207-543-7475.
To learn more about NMMC’s many services, to make a donation or to learn about volunteer opportunities, visit www.nmmc.org and Like us on Facebook!