AUBURN — The 20th annual Mary’s Firemen for a Cure is scheduled to be held at Lost Valley Ski Area, 200 Lost Valley Road, on Saturday, March 2.
Last year’s event was one of the most successful yet, with the firefighter teams raising the most money ever to date. The race organizers then announced, last April, a new partnership with Dempsey Center, headquartered in Lewiston, to continue to support cancer patients in Maine, according to a news release from Dave Soutter, Mary Allen’s son and an event organizer.
This year’s event will feature the firefighters’ ski race, with teams of four firefighters or EMTs, completing a modified slalom course in full gear, carrying a 50-foot hose. However, new this year, Mary’s Firemen will also host a Ski Patrol race with the ski patrol teams from area ski resorts competing.
Since 2004, Mary’s Firemen has raised over $300,000 to help breast cancer patients in Maine. Beginning last year, all proceeds from Mary’s Firemen are donated to Dempsey Center to fund the Women’s Support Group, which supports those women who have been affected by breast cancer and other types of cancer.
The firefighters’ race features departments from all over Maine, with teams of four firefighters racing down a slalom course in full turnout gear while carrying a 50-foot firemen’s hose. The ski patrol race will be similar to the firefighter’s race, but will feature four ski patrollers in uniform carrying a 50-foot snowmaking hose. Racers are encouraged to raise money, because for each $100 raised, one second is deducted from the team’s fasted race time.
In addition to the races, there will be children’s events, door prizes, a silent auction, a 50/50 and a live auction.
“My mom would be so incredibly proud that the event she started is still going strong and growing 20 years later,” said Soutter. “Dempsey Center is the perfect fit for Mary’s Firemen. My mom received chemotherapy treatments in Lewiston and would have greatly benefited from Dempsey Center’s services. We are so proud to join them in their mission of helping those Mainers managing the impact of cancer.”
In 2004, Mary and Wayne Allen started “Firemen for a Cure” at Shawnee Peak in Bridgton to give firefighters the opportunity to raise money for those fighting and awareness about breast cancer. Mary, a longtime employee at Shawnee Peak, had been fighting breast cancer for nearly 10 years. Wayne is a volunteer firefighter in North Bridgton.
Unfortunately, Mary lost her courageous battle in 2005, but Wayne and her three adult children, Christine, David and Ryan Soutter, renamed the event “Mary’s Firemen for a Cure” in 2006 and have been holding the event in her memory. Since 2012, Wayne’s wife, Laurie Allen, has been essential to the event’s success.
WMTW personality Meghan Torjussen will return as emcee for this year’s event. Registration will begin at 10 a.m., with the firefighter’s race beginning at 1 p.m. The Ski Patrol race will immediately follow.
The entry fee of $150 per team includes four day/night lift tickets, a T-shirt for each team member and a chili lunch. Although registration can be done the day of the event, teams are encouraged to register by Friday, Feb. 23, to assist race planners. Discounted lift tickets are also available for family members of racers.
To register a team and begin fundraising, or to learn more about the event, visit facebook.com/MarysFiremenForACure.
For any questions, email [email protected].