NEWRY – Maine Handicapped Skiing, Maine’s largest year-round adaptive recreation program for adults and children with physical disabilities, had its best fundraising event in 21 years, raising $316,644 in pledges at the 21st anniversary Ski-A-Thon on March 18 at Sunday River Ski Resort and Sunday River Inn and Cross Country Ski Center.

More than 650 skiers and riders and 110 volunteers from Maine and New England participated in the Ski-A-Thon. Highlights included free massages by the massage therapists of the Maine Sports Massage Team, an on-slope skiing obstacle course, built and operated by the Parrot Head Club of Maine, and a fun race at Monday Mourning Race Course.

The top fundraising team, Lincoln Loggers, won the grand prize for fundraising with $22,097, earning a skiing-lodging package for five at an eastern ski resort. Andrew Pipe, part-time Bethel resident and UK citizen, was the top individual fundraiser at $17,505, earning a timeshare anywhere in the world. Pipe beat out Craig Cooper, the top Ski-A-Thon fundraiser for Maine Handicapped Skiing for the last six years.

A special “Take the Craig Cooper Challenge,” designed to beat Cooper in 2006, generated a great deal of publicity. Pipe, a participant in the Maine Handicapped Skiing program, took the “challenge” and won the top individual fundraising spot.

Marvin Collins, vice president of operations at Sunday River Ski Resort, accepted Maine Handicapped Skiing’s 110 Percent Award given to individuals, businesses or organizations who have given extraordinary service to the association. Sunday River Ski Resort has been the major sponsor and supporter for 21 years.

Sunday River provided free lift tickets to skiers and riders at the Ski-A-Thon. Sunday River Inn and Cross Country Ski Center, home of MHS’s cross country skiing and snowshoeing program, provided passes for the cross country skiers participating.

To learn more about the fundraiser or to receive information on becoming a volunteer or a participant in Maine Handicapped Skiing’s adaptive recreational program, call 800-639-7770, e-mail [email protected] or check out the Web at www.skimhs.org.