NEWRY – Skiers, fundraisers and corporations from throughout New England gathered at Sunday River recently to raise money for Maine Handicapped Skiing, Maine’s largest adaptive recreation program for children and adults with physical disabilities.

The 24th annual Ski-A-Thon raises more than $250,000 for Maine Handicapped Skiing.

“This is a very challenging time to raise funds, yet MHS depends on the Ski-A-Thon to help keep our programs free to all participants. The fact that our sponsors and teams raised over a quarter of a million dollars yesterday is very impressive, and we are deeply grateful for their tremendous efforts and generosity,” said Kris Dorer, Maine Handicapped Skiing’s director of development.

Roughly 500 people participated in the event, over half of whom are also weekly MHS participants and/or volunteers. Forty skiers and riders with physical disabilities participated in this year’s Ski-A-Thon, which also got financial and in-kind support from 20 businesses.

The Ski-A-Thon culminated in a banquet and awards ceremony attended by about 400. There, MHS officially announced its selection as the 2009 charitable beneficiary of the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon road race, and 10 bib numbers and the rights to help hold a finish tape for the race on Aug. 1 were auctioned off.

The MHS founders and board of directors also recognized Betsy Doyon, executive director of Maine Handicapped Skiing, who is leaving the organization after 20 years this spring to run a small business with her husband.

To find out more about Maine Handicapped Skiing, visit www.skimhs.org or call 800-639-7770.