NEWRY — Trek Across Maine on Thursday reported raising $1.4 million for the American Lung Association, prior to the event’s Friday morning start.
“And we are hoping to raise $2 million by the end of the trek,” said Emily Murphy, vice president for development and marketing for the American Lung Association of New England.
The trek has attracted more than 2,400 cyclists, 160 teams and 600-plus volunteers, she said.
The Trek Across Maine is a 180-mile, three-day bicycle trip to raise money for the American Lung Association. The trek, traditionally run every year on Father’s Day weekend, begins at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry at 8 a.m. Friday and ends at Steamboat Landing Park in Belfast on Sunday.
Last year’s trek drew roughly 2,500 cyclists and raised $1.7 million.
The trek welcomes anyone age 7 or older to participate. Each trek cyclist gathers pledges of at least $400 to participate in the event, and may choose to participate individually or in a team.
Two of the largest groups in this year’s trek are from Maine, Murphy said. The L.L. Bean team and a team from Bath Iron Works each has more than 100 riders.
Day one of the Trek takes the cyclists to Farmington for the first overnight stop. On the second day, they ride to Colby College in Waterville and on day three they pedal to Belfast.
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