Breast cancer survivor wins kayak in fund-raising raffle

BANGOR – Debbie McAllian of Bucksport had never won anything in her life until Nov. 13 when she won a one-person Otter kayak, a paddle and life vest in a raffle sponsored by the Greater Bangor Women’s Ski and Snowboard Club to benefit the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition. The kayak was donated by Old Town Canoe.

“The amazing thing,” said Jan Bennett of Orrington, founder and president of the ski club, “is that Debbie and her mother, Ellen Gilman, are breast cancer survivors.”

McAllain is a three-year survivor and Gilman, also of Bucksport, is a 23-year survivor. The raffle raised $1,548 for the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition.

The ski club will hold its Vertical Challenge at Sugarloaf USA Feb. 9 to benefit the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition. The event will be dedicated to the memory of Jeffery Peet, owner of the Ski Rack in Bangor, who died recently in a hiking accident in Gulf Hagas. Peet was a financial supporter of the coalition.

To obtain information about the ski club, or to participate in the Vertical Challenge, call Jan Bennett at 825-8821. To obtain information about the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition, or to make a donation, call (800) 928-2644.