When I spoke with Hampden Town Manger Susan Lessard on Monday, her son and daughter-in-law, Pat and Kristin Ready Lessard of Ellsworth, were at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, consulting with doctors regarding Kristin’s medical treatment.

And that, certainly, is not something a young couple, married just one year, would expect to be doing.

But Susan Lessard is hopeful that a new treatment approach can be found to ease the pain Kristin is having as she faces cancer for the second time in her life.

After receiving treatment for bone cancer at age 15, Lessard said, her 24-year-old daughter-in-law “was cancer-free” until being diagnosed this summer with breast cancer.

After undergoing a double mastectomy, cancer also was found on her spine and in her pelvic area.

Readers of the sports pages, particularly, might recognize Kristin as a former standout athlete at Bucksport High School and St. Joseph’s College in Standish.

Her husband, a special education teacher at Mount Desert Island High School, has been taking time from work to care for her.

“They are an amazing couple,” Susan Lessard said. “She’s a very strong young woman. And while it is tough, and they are going through more in this first year [of marriage] than most go through in a lifetime, their story is about love, faith, courage and commitment.

“They don’t talk about, ‘why us?’ Pat just says that ‘on the good days, we do the things we want to, and on the bad days we stay home.’ They are an example to everyone. And she is, particularly, going through this with such dignity.”

The young couple is receiving support of those far and near, and Lessard is especially appreciative of the efforts of Hampden town employees on their behalf.

I’ve heard from no less than three of them: finance director Gil Pratt, assessor Vivian Gresser and Hampden Fire Department Lt. Frank Coombs, all with information about fund-raisers planned for the young Lessards.

Town employees are hosting a benefit car wash from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at the old fire station on Main Road South, right across from Hampden Academy.

The effort, Pratt wrote, is being coordinated by Coombs and Rosemary Bezanson of the Hampden Town Office.

Area residents are encouraged to get their cars washed, leave a donation with town employees, or contribute to the Kristin Ready Lessard Fund at any branch of Peoples Heritage Bank.

Hampden employees are also planning a benefit spaghetti supper and auction, Gresser told me, and, as soon as they have the date for that event, I’ll let you know.

In the meantime, however, “auction items are needed and can be dropped at the new fire station located on 106 Western Avenue,” Gresser said.

Planners request that the donation be small in size.

“We’re looking for handcrafted things, antiques; items that could be easily taken home in someone’s car,” she said.

For her part, Hampden’s town manager “is very touched” by the efforts of “all the people who work with me, who are reaching out to these kids,” Lessard said.

If you would like to help, or need more information, you are invited to call Coombs at the HFD, 862-4586, or Bezanson or Gresser at the Hampden Town Office, 862-4500.

You are invited to be part of meteorologist Ted Shapiro’s WeatherWalk beginning at 3 p.m. today at the Maine Discovery Museum on Main Street in Bangor.

This walk will take you to the top of the Thomas Hill Standpipe “to enjoy the autumn splendor,” Shapiro said, “and, along the way, we’ll talk about some fascinating Bangor weather history.”

So, if your plans for the day include a visit to the Thomas Hill Standpipe, here’s an opportunity to get some exercise and learn some Bangor history!

Now through Tuesday, Dec. 10, shoppers at Hannaford and Shop ‘n Save stores in Maine can help schools in their communities by earning “School Dollars” in the Hannaford Helps Schools program.

Shoppers help their schools by purchasing General Mills products.

Customers who purchase three General Mills products receive $2 in School Dollars; six products produce $4 in School Dollars and nine products earn $6 in School Dollars, which customers then turn in to their schools.

At the end of the program, Hannaford will present an additional $1,000 education grant to the school raising the most funds through each of its stores.

If your school is not registered in this program, you can register by calling (866) 716-5730.

The program is open to all K-12 schools.

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