By Terry Karkos,Staff Writer

NEWRY – Hundreds of bicyclists are poised to ride through the River Valley area Friday, June 17, on their way to Farmington.

The riders have committed their pedaling and lung stamina to the American Lung Association of Maine’s Trek Across Maine event, hoping to raise more than $1.2 million.

Averaging 60 miles a day, the cycling feat is a three-day, 183-mile ride, beginning Friday morning at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, with overnight stops at the University of Maine at Farmington and Colby College in Waterville.

The ride is to culminate on the afternoon of Sunday, June 19, at Snow Marine Park overlooking the sea in Rockland.

Participants in the annual fund-raising event must raise a minimum of $450 in pledges.

Pledges raised are used to support educational programs, advocacy efforts and research in Maine.

As of May, more than 100 teams, which consist of at least three registered Trekkers, had signed up.

According to the Maine Lung Association, thousands of cyclists have improved their fitness level by training and completing the Trek challenge since 1985. They’ve also raised more than $11 million to help prevent lung disease and improve lung health in Maine.

Among the goals for this year’s Trek Across Maine are to generate and support statewide action to continue to reduce youth smoking in Maine, and to improve indoor and outdoor air quality in the state.

The first leg of the ride, from Sunday River to the University of Maine at Farmington, is the longest at 65.5 miles. It features the trek’s highest elevation, at 1,325 feet above sea level, between Weld and Wilton.

Riders are to take off from the ski area from 7 to 9:30 a.m. in groups of 50. The first of three rest stops is in Rumford on Route 108, the second in Weld, and the third in Wilton.