The opportunity to take a 50-mile walk along Cape Cod came to former Bar Harbor and new Lamoine resident Kim Ballard in the mail when Ballard received a notice about the first MS Challenge Walk, to be held in five locations throughout the United States.

“I thought it would be a great way to get in shape, see a beautiful place, meet some new people and help others,” Ballard explained.

Before making the decision to take this three-day, 50-mile walk from Provincetown, Mass., to Dennis, Mass., she did not know anyone with multiple sclerosis.

But Ballard is meeting new people every day, and is working very hard to raise the $1,500 she needs to enter the event to help Maine people living with MS.

“I don’t have the latest amount,” Ballard said, “but I believe I’ve raised in the neighborhood of $800.

“I do need to raise the $1,500, but I’m looking for a lot more, and I need to raise the money by next Sunday,” which is Aug. 26.

Among the 1,000 participants, Ballard, walker No. 210, is known as “that girl from Maine.”

“I honestly don’t know if there is anyone else from Maine in the event,” she said, since she has not met the whole group yet.

One great advantage of taking part in this event, I learned, is that Ballard doesn’t have to take that long, often bumper-to-bumper drive out Route 6 to the tip of the Cape.

“We are meeting at Plymouth,” she said, “and they are ferrying us across.”

Ballard, who works at Indian Meadow Herbals in Eastbrook, hopes you will help her raise the $1,500 by donating online at www.nationalmssociety.org or by sending a check made out to the National MS Society and mailing it to Ballard at 1153-B Shore Road, Lamoine 04605.

In order for her to be credited with your donation, you must include her name and “Walker #210.”

You also can get information by calling Ballard at 667-0974.

Susan Potters, board president of The Arcady Music Society, called to inform readers that “the [National] Folk Festival musicians won’t be the only influx of musicians” coming to Bangor this weekend, and that your help is needed with another group.

Eighteen members of the Chamber Orchestra Kremlin arrive Saturday, Aug. 24, from Moscow to perform in the sixth and final week of Arcady’s Summer Music Festival.

The musicians will perform Sunday night in Skowhegan and then at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26, at Minsky Auditorium on the campus of the University of Maine in Orono.

Potters said Arcady will house the musicians Saturday, Aug. 24, through Monday, Aug. 26, in Bangor homes, and Arcady “is seeking more area residents to take in the young musicians.

“Housers, who are offered a complimentary ticket to the concert for each night of housing, would need only provide a bed and breakfast. Other meals and transportation can be taken care of by Arcady.”

Potters asks anyone interested in taking advantage of this “wonderful opportunity for cultural exchange” to call her at 990-2805.

Spruce Run Association of Bangor is forming a new support group for women currently or formerly affected by domestic abuse. The group will conduct weekly meetings on Friday mornings beginning Friday, Aug. 30, in Bangor.

There is no charge to attend this support group, and child care is provided through a children’s activity group that will meet at the same time.

To learn more about this helpful opportunity and for the location where it will take place, call the Spruce Run Hotline at (800) 863-9909 or 947-0496.

Spruce Run also is offering a 43-hour training session for individuals volunteering to be hot line workers.

The training prepares you to support people affected by domestic violence and includes a presentation on the dynamics of domestic violence and crisis intervention skill development.

The association also needs children’s workers, and offers a 30-hour training session to help you support and interact with children whose mothers are affected by domestic violence.

Finally, Spruce Run needs receptionists to work Monday through Friday answering phones, doors and performing other office tasks.

No experience is required for any of these volunteer opportunities. For more information and an application, call 945-5102.

Director Jan Cox invites you to attend the Brewer Hometown Band’s final summer concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, at Doyle Field in Brewer.

Seniors who have difficulty walking can drive onto the field for the concert. If it rains, bring your lawn chairs inside the Brewer Auditorium. The concert is free, but any donations are appreciated.

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