LEWISTON – Rain could not dampen the spirits of walkers with a cause on Sept. 17th as more than 100 people walked three miles at the Lewiston-Auburn Walk-a-thon for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program.

Every penny of the more than $4,000 raised at the walk-a-thon will be used to help local children and their families’ battle cancer.

Shaw’s in Lewiston hosted the walk with coordinators Shari Cloutier and Kathy MacDonald. DJ Dave Dionne provided music for cheerleader performances. “Lewy the Maineiac” and the Lewiston High School marching band entertained the crowd.

Families came to share their cancer stories and some attended to honor the memory of a child.

Kaylyn Rider performed “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Walkers gathered behind the Oxford Plains Speedway pace car which carried Jacob Baggs, Kevin McKeown, Rebecca Hardy, and her younger brother, Jack. All are cancer survivors or participants of the Maine Children’s Cancer Program.

The Lewiston-Auburn walk started in 2001 as a grassroots effort by local cheerleading teams. The walk-a-thon has grown into a full-fledged community event where all participants share the common goal to assist the Maine Children’s Cancer Program in ensuring that all children with cancer become survivors. To date, more than 198 children from Androscoggin and Oxford counties have been treated by the program.

Additional donations can be sent to the Maine Children’s Cancer Program, 100 Campus Drive, Unit 107, Scarborough, ME 04074.