AUBURN/RUMFORD — From humble beginnings when a handful of individuals came together to walk a few miles in Portland to six walk sites in Maine, the Maine Children’s Cancer Program’s annual walk marks its 25th year this year.

Registration is underway for individuals and teams to participate in this year’s Walk which is happening on Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Auburn Mall in Auburn and at the Hosmer Field Athletic Complex in Rumford. There are also walks in Portland, Augusta, Topsham/Brunswick and Waterville.

All walks start at 9 a.m., with registration beginning at 8 a.m. All walkers who raise $50 or more will receive a free T-shirt.

The Walk’s goal is to raise between $125,000 and $150,000 to help children with cancer and their families.

Jon Paradise, communications chairman for the MCCP Walk Committee and a board member at MCCP, said, “In 1986, the first walk was more about families who had children with cancer getting together to support the program. The fact that this walk has grown and endured for 25 years says a lot about the people – the staff, families and volunteers.”

The walk is the biggest, single-day fundraiser for MCCP. Walkers are asked to collect contributions from family, friends, neighbors and/or their companies. Walkers can walk as a team or individually. For more information and for a registration form, call 662-6274 or register online at www.mmc.org/mccpwalk. For those unable to participate in the walk itself, online contributions are accepted via credit card through the same website.

Since it began, the Walk has raised nearly $2 million for Maine children with cancer and their families.

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