Although it will not be until the first weekend of October that people across the country participate in America’s Walk for Diabetes, family and friends of a very special little guy right here in Bangor are already doing what they can to get people interested in participating, and to help raise funds for the American Diabetes Association.

You are cordially invited to meet 4-year-old Timmy Lewis of Bangor; the 1999 Honorary Chairperson for America’s Walk for Diabetes in Maine.

Timmy will be helping his dad and mom, Timothy and Cindy Lewis, with 15-month-old Andrew in tow; other family members and friends at their “Cleaning Cars for A Cure” fund-raiser from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Irving Mainway Station, 486 Broadway in Bangor.

Donations will be accepted and greatly appreciated by all who scrub your cars!

Timmy Lewis was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, or juvenile diabetes, just last year.

Juvenile diabetes, Cindy Lewis explained, “means that Timmy’s pancreas is unable to produce insulin to lower his blood sugars,” so he is now taking two insulin shots a day, “gets tested four times a day and eats six times a day,” she said.

Despite this dramatic change in routine for an active and happy child, Timmy is doing fine.

“He adjusted very well to them,” his mom said of the injections.

“At first, it was very difficult, but one thing we taught him was to use a little prayer in life to help with the tough decisions and tough things, and this has helped little Timmy adjust very, very well. He prays before every shot.”

When Timmy and his family participated in the Bangor walk last year, he was asked to cut the ribbon to start the event. Apparently, he and his family have made quite an impression on the people who represent ADA New England Region-Maine because the parents were called to ask permission for Timmy to serve as honorary chairperson for Maine’s 1999 Walk for Diabetes.

“One of the things they noticed was his family support, not only in the hospital but at the walk as well,” Cindy Lewis said. “I guess that was one of the reasons he was asked.”

As Timmy grows and learns to live with Type 1 diabetes, his mother said she now knows enough about the disease and what to do to take proper care of him. She is confident he will have a good life.

“Basically, we’ve adjusted our lives to Timmy,” she said specifically of meal planning and serving.

“I won’t say that I always exclude Oreo cookies from his diet, because he is an active little boy, but I adjust everything else accordingly.”

Timmy Lewis, his family and friends are doing this car wash on their own to help raise funds for, and awareness of, diabetes and the services provided by ADA

We hope you stop by and meet Timmy and, we hope too, you consider registering for America’s Walk for Diabetes as a walker, sponsor or volunteer. If you can’t do that, then make a contribution.

To register or support America’s Walk for Diabetes, call 800-254-9255.

We apologize for giving the incorrect telephone number for Nancy Ziegenbein of the Friends of the Bangor Symphony who called Monday to say a few tickets are still available for the John Singer Sargent exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

The coach trip to benefit the Bangor Symphony Orchestra leaves at 7 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, from Bangor. Arrangements can be made for stops on Interstate 95 to pick up anyone who wants to make the trip.

Reservations must be made by Saturday by calling Ziegenbein at 947-7965, or the BSO at 942-5555 or 800-639-3221. The cost is $109 for non-Friends members and $99 for members.

The soon-to-be-built Williamson Arts & Technology Facility, on the grounds of the Lawrence Junior-Senior High School complex in Fairfield, will be the beneficiary of funds raised at the WATF Benefit Golf Tournament beginning with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Saturday at the private nine-hole golf course owned by Steve and Paula Brown on the grounds of their Clinton home.

With space for 18 teams in the benefit, slots are still available. The fee is $50 per person, $200 to sponsor a team, or $200 to sponsor a hole. The fee includes lunch.

Prizes include a Jeep Wrangler for a hole in one, a television, shirts, golf passes, gift certificates and much more.

Frank Bouchard, 453-7030, or Lona Ward, 437-2312, are the people to call if you want to make reservations, and Bouchard tells us this is a wonderful place to play golf.

He said the course the Browns have created elicits high praise from golfers from Maine to Florida who have been privileged to play there.

“They are very generous in opening their course for charity events, and everyone who plays is astonished at what they’ve done. It’s a beautiful course with flowers, rock work and fountains. It is very, very generous of them to donate their course for such events.”

Doug Tibbetts, commander of the Corinna American Legion Post, wrote to extend an invitation to “all veterans, their ladies and guests,” to attend the Post’s “Chicken Bar-B-Que.”

The event begins with band music at 11 a.m. to get you in the mood for the food, which will be served promptly at noon at the Post Home on Maple Street.

The price is right — just $4 per person — and you get to see the Post’s new gazebo, too!

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.