RUMFORD – In a ceremony at the Local 900 Hall on Sept. 18, the Rumford area committee supporting a local dialysis center presented 10 checks in the amount of $206.57 to individuals receiving dialysis treatments to be used to cover expenses.

The funding represented the balance remaining in the account established in 2001 when an effort was made to secure a center for the area.

Committee Chairman Dick Doherty, Vice Chairwoman Jean Doherty, Secretary/Treasurer Clara Allen and committee members Sen. Bruce Bryant and Rep. John Patrick presented the checks following a decision in August by the remaining board members to disband the committee.

At that time a decision was made to use the remaining funds to support patients who had been involved in the effort to establish the center.

Bryant said it was an honor to work on such a deserving project and that the committee had fought a hard battle and were successful in getting a center closer to Rumford when the Wilton center was established.

He complimented the individuals present as many had been involved in securing support from their communities as well as traveling to Augusta to testify.

Patrick said the data gathered by the Rumford area group was instrumental in seeing that the center in Wilton was established.

Jean Doherty thanked Bryant and Patrick on behalf of the group for their efforts on the committee, commenting, “You were there for the first meeting, for the last meeting and at all points in between.”