PARIS – The Oxford County Democratic House and Senate candidates have raised more than $2,300 in an effort to sponsor a prescription drug trip to Canada on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 13 and 14.

They attended senior citizens meetings during the first two weeks of September to highlight the issue of the cost of prescription drugs and promote the trip. Sen. Bruce Bryant and Senate candidate Marge Medd visited gatherings in Woodstock and Bridgton, and House candidates Roy Gedat, Linda Petrie, Marlee Turner, Margaret Reimer, Terry Hayes, Kathleen Dougherty and Tim Carter visited groups in their districts or distributed applications while at events, including the Oxford County Fair.

The purpose of the trip, according to Oxford County Democratic Chairwoman Cathy Newell, is to keep the issue of the high cost of prescription drugs in the public eye and to allow 20 seniors or others with high drug costs to benefit from savings on one year’s worth of prescriptions.

There have been many applications requested from the Maine Council of Senior Citizens, the organization partnering with the candidates in sponsoring the trip. Five of the 20 available slots have been confirmed with the required deposit, and the council would like to have all completed applications by Monday, Sept. 27.

For information, call the council at 1-800-452-8794. Anyone who would like to help the Democratic House and Senate candidates raise the additional $700 for the trip may send a donation payable to the Maine Council of Senior Citizens to Box 187, Greenwood, ME 04255.