Horsback riding programs

BANGOR – The Bangor YMCA, in collaboration with Puckerbrush Farms of Newburgh, is offering horseback riding programs for all ages, toddlers to adults. Registration is April 21-27 at the Bangor YMCA Welcome Center for programs that begin the week of April 28.

The horseback programs offered are riding lessons, Tiny Tots for ages 3-6, and vaulting lessons.

Sandy Welsh and Bryn Reynolds of Puckerbrush Farms, who will instruct the classes, are certified riding instructors.

Cost for the Tiny Tots program is $240 for the eight-week session. The cost for riding lessons is $200 for the eight-week session. The cost for vaulting is $160 for the eight-week session. Various days and times are available. A minimum of two people per lesson is required. Call the Bangor YMCA at 941-2815 for more information, or register in person at the Bangor YMCA, 127 Hammond St.

Lap of Hope

OLD TOWN – This year, 7,000 people in Maine will be diagnosed with cancer, and many will survive the disease.

On Friday, May 16, at Old Town High School, 125 local cancer survivors will come together to celebrate life in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life’s Survivors Lap. The Lap of Hope and reception kick off the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Old Town.

“The Survivors Lap and reception are the reasons I participate in Relay For Life,” said Carol Beagan. “The walk shows that we can win the battle against cancer. Also, those who are still going through treatment truly feel inspired being with cancer survivors during the reception. They seem to gain strength from being with others who have gone through what they are going through.”

For information about the Survivors Lap, reception or Relay For Life of Calais, call Mike Hart of the American Cancer Society at 989-0332.

Relay For Life of Old Town is a 24-hour event that brings together teams from local businesses, schools, churches and families for camaraderie, food, fun, music, entertainment and a night under the stars while team members take turns walking or running on a track. This year’s event is Old Town’s 10th annual Relay For Life. and it hopes to raise $125,000 for the American Cancer Society’s research, education, advocacy and patient service programs. Sponsors this year include Georgia-Pacific, Dead River, Adelphia, Lemforder, Sam’s Club, Z107, WVII-TV, Interface Fabrics Group and Hannaford.

The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing the disease, and saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service.

Living With Grief

BANGOR – Hospice of Eastern Maine will serve as a local host for the Hospice Foundation of America’s 10th annual bereavement teleconference, “Living With Grief: Coping With Public Tragedy,” 1:30-4 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, at Eastern Maine Medical Center’s Mason Auditorium.

The live-via-satellite video broadcast will examine factors that define a public tragedy and look at ways health care providers and other professionals may appropriately respond and offer support.

“Given current events, this topic is timely,” said Helen Genco, president and chief executive officer, Hospice of Eastern Maine. “We’re pleased to be hosting this event in Bangor.”

Cokie Roberts, ABC News correspondent, will moderate the teleconference.

The teleconference is produced by Hospice Foundation of America, a nonprofit organization working to educate health care professionals and the families they serve on issues relating to illness, loss and grief. The program is sponsored in part by a grant from Last Acts and the Foundation for End of Life Care, in cooperation with the Adventist Communication Network, Association for Death Education and Counseling, Project on Death in America and The Compassionate Friends.

Cancer survivor training

BANGOR – The American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery program will offer a training session for breast cancer survivors who want to help others facing breast cancer.

The session for survivors interested in becoming Reach to Recovery visitors will be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at the Holiday Inn, Main Street. A recertification session will be held 1-4 p.m. Lunch will be served.