On behalf of the Trekkers staff, students and the Thomaston Trek 2018 planning committee, I want to express my sincere gratitude to all the local businesses and individuals who helped make our fifth Annual 5K/10K Run & 5K Walk event on June 3rd such a success. The 36 participating Trekkers students raised more than $8000 in pledges toward their annual dues. The proceeds from this event will help our students participate in experiential learning programs this year—including life-changing expeditions, community service projects and adventure-based education.

We had 94 registrants, ages 8 to 81, who ran or walked to support our students through this 5th annual Thomaston Trek. We also had 64 volunteers who helped with set up, registration, route monitoring, finish line, photography, timing, the pancake breakfast and clean-up duty.

With all that support, there are lots of people to thank, including: Mr. Hank Carey and the Thomaston Academy, Pine Tree Race Services -Wendy Buretta, Knox County EMA, the Thomaston Select Board, Thomaston Police Department, Ann Craven, and all of the other wonderful volunteers, including a small army from First National Bank who worked the registration tables, who helped make the entire event run so smoothly.  Our thanks also go to Scott Yakovenko and The Slipway Restaurant for providing such a wonderful venue for the pancake breakfast.  Many thanks to Sidecountry Sports and Bayoga for providing gift certificates to the prize winners.

This event is made possible through the generous support of our lead sponsor: Applewood Dental.  Our supporting sponsors are as follows: Atwood Lobster LLC; Bayoga; Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate – The Masiello Group; Brooks Trap Mill; Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home; Eastern Tire & Auto Service, Inc.; Epifanes, NA; FIORE Artisan Olive Oils & Vinegars; Fisher Engineering; Glen Cove Dental Associates; Grasshopper Shop; Harbor Builders Associates; Harbor Road Veterinary Hospital; Horch Roofing; Jeff’s Marine; Lonza Rockland, Inc; Monhegan Boat Line; Mount Pleasant Dental Care; Mr. Tire Company; Ocean Pursuits; Once A Tree Inc.; Rockland Savings Bank, FSB; Schooner J. & E. Riggin, Sidecountry Sports and The Slipway.  Trekkers truly appreciates the generosity of all our sponsors. We encourage everyone to support these local enterprises.

And, of course, we want to thank all the Thomaston Trek participants, along with the student and parent volunteers, the Trekkers staff and board, and the event committee who helped plan and organize this fundraising event: Michael Hersom, Alli Young, Dee Megna, Paula Coyne and Shari Closter.

As Trekkers celebrates its 25th year of mentoring youth from the Midcoast area, we continue to be humbled and amazed by the outpouring of support we receive from the community. It is through the community’s steadfast support that we are able to achieve the Trekkers’ mission of connecting young people with caring adults through expeditionary learning, community service and adventure-based education. We can’t thank you enough for your continued support and for helping to make this fifth annual Thomaston Trek so amazing.

Amie Hutchison is executive director of Trekkers

Shari Closter

Event & Communications Manager