A Westport Island mother and son plan to ride 180 miles on a tandem bicycle June 19-21 to raise money for a cause they believe in.
Cary Huggins and her husband, Joe, and family have been volunteering for the American Lung Association of Maine for several years, participating in the organization’s “Trek across Maine” in one way or another.
Cary herself has ridden her bike in the association’s annual fundraiser for the past four years, but her son, Kiernan, 9, a 4th grader at Wiscasset Primary School, will attempt it for the first time.
“I’m nervous because I have never done this much ever before,” Kiernan said in an interview with his mother Monday.
Before this year, Kiernan had worked the past two years with his father and grandparents as a volunteer supporting the riders by serving refreshments at rest stops.
His mom though, has been training with him by bicycling often on good days the past month from Westport Island to Wiscasset, a distance of seven miles on their “bicycle built for two.”
“You might have passed us out on Rt. 1 or Rt. 27,” she said.
On Saturday, the pair pedaled 38 miles from Biddeford to Buxton and Hollis. Besides the bicycling, Kiernan keeps in shape playing baseball this season after having played basketball during the winter months.
“It’s a great time to support lung health,” Cary said. “I was reading today that Maine has the best grades in the nation for the best lung health. Teen smoking is way down.”
Huggins currently works as a substitute school nurse at Wiscasset Primary School, and she believes the efforts of the American Lung Association for research and all has helped reduce cases of lung problems and improve overall lung health.
Her older sons, age 11 and 13, have made the trek and Dylan, 17, a junior at Lincoln Academy have been involved in the venture for five years.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the “mountains to the sea” trek, which takes three days from Newry to Belfast with two overnights along the way, one at the University of Maine at Farmington and one at Colby College, according to her. She said some 2000 cyclists ride 60 miles per day in order to complete the entire trip.
“It’s very well organized,” she said.
The whole affair requires about 500 volunteers who take part in one way or another like stationing themselves along the way to provide Gatorade or water and snacks at various rest stops. Cary’s parents, John and Louise Morton of Hanover plan to take part where they live.
“There are so many different ways you can volunteer,” she said.
Cary and his mother have to raise at least $1000 in pledges in order to be able to participate in the Trek across Maine. They need the support of local people and businesses in the form of tax-deductible donations.
Anyone desiring to donate may do so online at www.lungme.org or send a check payable to ALA-ME to Cary Huggins, 9 Bayview Drive, Westport Island, 04578. Interested people may also email huggcary@yahoo.com.
