Cheers to the 2,100 cyclists who pedaled 180 miles from Newry to Belfast last weekend and raised $1.8 million in support of the American Lung Association of Maine.

Cheers, too, to the 700 volunteers who helped guide cyclists to camping and dining areas, and who stood for hours on street corners directing traffic to ensure cyclists’ safety.

This event would not be the success that it is without these committed and energetic volunteers.

The Trek Across Maine enjoyed tremendous weather, which always makes for a more enjoyable bike ride, and motorists were courteous about sharing the road with so many cyclists of varying ages and abilities.

It was the 28th year for the Trek, an event that draws riders from across the country to participate in this one-of-a-kind event.

This is not, despite what it appears, a three-day event.

It takes months for most riders to train for the Trek, preparing legs and lungs to ride 60 miles of hills and flats each day. Riders are also required to raise at least $500 to participate, but most raise much, much more.

Coincidentally, days after the Trek wrapped, the U.S. Senate took its own action in support of good lung health and clean air in rejecting, by a vote of 53-46, an attempt to roll back the nation’s Clean Air Act.

Cheers to Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins for voting against repealing Environmental Protection Agency mercury and air toxic standards for power plants, a move proposed by Oklahoma Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe. Cheers, too, to senators in the Northeast, every one of who — in a true nonpartisan action — joined the women from Maine.

We urge the House to follow the Senate action.

We must fight to protect the quality of our air.

This is especially important in Maine, which has one of the highest asthma rates in the country.

The air you breathe is important, and if you want to protect it, reach out to Rep. Michael Michaud and Chellie Pingree and demand their support.

And, if you’re looking for a more hands-on way to support clean air, it’s not too early to start training for Trek 2013. For information about the event, or to register, go to: http://action.lung.org/site/TR?fr_id=6200&pg=entry

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Cheers to Kayla Hutchinson of Turner, recently honored by the Maine State Police for her efforts to follow (but not confront) a drunk driver who had struck two vehicles on the Maine Turnpike and then give dispatchers a precise location so the driver could be stopped.

If we want our streets to be safe, we all have an obligation to be safe drivers and to report unsafe drivers when we see them.

Hutchinson did what a lot of other people don’t do. She got involved and, on that day, made the Turnpike just a little bit safer for the rest of us.

See it. Report it.

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The opinions expressed in this column reflect the views of the ownership and the editorial board.