By Dominik Lobkowicz
Special Olympics athletes (from left) Kurt Leidenroth, Jarrod Lima, Shane Roberts, and Ronnie Vanasse, housemates from Thomaston, all enjoyed going on the Torch Ride Sept. 21. (D. Lobkowicz photo) |
Though the Special Olympics fundraiser Torch Ride had only about half the usual motorcycles participating this year, founder and organizer Larry Hesseltine estimates the two-day event still raised around $10,000.
The Sept. 21 ride had a wet start, but by the time the riders traveled down to Wiscasset, up to Augusta, and back over to Owls Head, the weather had improved. Around 25 Special Olympics athletes joined in, making the ride on a bus.
“Trooper [Jeremy] Westbrock did an excellent job escorting us; we had no mishaps,” Hesseltine said. “Just a safe ride was all we were asking for and we got it.”
Trina Johnson, a board member for the Torch Ride, said the 44 motorcycles that participated is a big drop from the 80-100 bikes in past years. Johnson and her husband, David, have been helping Hesseltine with the ride for four years, she said.
Johnson also organized the Torch Ride’s first 5K walk-run, which was held in Thomaston Sept. 20.
The top male finisher was Darren Winchenbach, of Waldoboro, and the top female finisher was Kerry Kelley, of Thomaston.
“We decided to add the 5K this year to see if we could get a little different crowd,” Johnson said. The 5K had 17 participants, which was on par with some other local races, she said.
Hesseltine’s estimate for the funds raised puts this year’s ride on par with years past, as the four previous events have raised just under $40,000 in total, he said.
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Chris and Renita Merritt, owners of Schooner Bay Taxi, have been corporate sponsors of the Torch Ride since it began and have ridden on four of the five events. Just seeing the smiles on the athletes’ faces can make an impact, Renita said. (D. Lobkowicz photo) |
Chris and Renita Merritt, owners of Schooner Bay Taxi and corporate sponsors of the ride, have also ridden on the Torch Ride for four of the five events.
Renita believes the Torch Ride has a lasting impact on the athletes, which she sees year to year as the athletes remember their names, and the athletes have an impact on the participants, too.
“For me, it’s for the athletes,” Chris said. “Meet some of those guys and you’ll understand.”
Hesseltine had a similar take.
“Once you get involved and you get to meet the athletes and build a relationship with the athletes, you just want to keep doing more to help them,” he said.
Torch Ride 5K race results:
1. Darren Winchenbach, Waldoboro, 20:55; 2. Patrick O’Donnell, Warren, 22:06; 3. Kerry Kelley, Thomaston, 22:22; 4. Richard Bissett Sr., Waldoboro, 23:01; 5. Vern Demmons, Warren, 23:53; 6. Mathieu Bisset, Waldoboro, 25:16; 7. Timothy Chickering, Warren, 25:20; 8. Katie Daggett, Washington, 28:30; 9. Jody Dinsmore, South Thomaston, 29:30; 10. Kylea Odone, South Thomaston, 30:11; 11. Tiffany Nazworth, Thomaston, 30:17; 12. Gail Kelley, Chesapeake, Va., 31:40; 13. Larry Hesseltine, Warren, 32:56; 14. Michelle Curtis, Thomaston, 36:14; 15. Angie Cooper, Chelsea, 40:14; 16. David Merrill, Farmingdale, 40:17; 17. Pamela Doherty, Warren, 42:30.
