Thanks to the thoughtfulness of Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society Vice President Kyle Duckworth of Bar Harbor, today I can bring you some heartwarming news from Iraq.

Duckworth e-mailed the Bangor Daily News with information about fellow club member Dr. Chip Ridky, also known as Lt. Col. Ridky, public health officer of the Maine Air National Guard 101st Air Refueling Wing-Medical Squadron in Bangor.

Today, Ridky is stationed in Kirkuk, serving with the 506th Air Expeditionary Group.

“But that little geographic constraint won’t keep him from participating” in the PPCS second annual Taylor Pelotte Surf-A-Thon to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine on Saturday, July 31, Duckworth wrote.

The fund-raiser is in memory of the late daughter of club members Greg and Sharon Pelotte of Winslow.

Taylor died of cancer in November 2003, three months after she and her family took a Make-A-Wish trip to Walt Disney World.

Duckworth wrote that the host site for “this novel fund-raising event,” is The Forks, where the Dead and Kennebec rivers converge.

“A hot spot for white-water paddling in Maine,” he explained, it is “a favorite destination of PPCS members.”

Participants will be soliciting pledges for paddling 16 miles of rapids on the Dead River and some will even paddle it twice.

It is called a Surf-A-Thon because paddlers are able to “surf on a wave in the rapids, much as a surfboarder rides a wave on the ocean,” Duckworth explained.

So, what does this have to do with Dr. Ridky in Iraq?

He wants to participate in this particular fund-raiser, that’s what.

In an e-mail from Ridky, Duckworth wrote, the good doctor “lamented” that “with the exception of what’s called a Binjo Ditch (sewer water flowing onto the base from the town of Kirkuk), there is no water here.”

However, Duckworth added, Ridky would not be deterred by such a simple problem as no water.

Instead, he “will be spending the equivalent of 16 miles on an elliptical trainer inside the huge recreational center tent on the base,” where he will be “in full view of hundreds of soldiers enjoying the big weekly social event: Bingo.”

Ridky e-mailed that even before he started advertising his Make-A-Wish fund-raiser, people on the base were calling him, “asking where to drop off their donations.”

“Some have told me that is a reminder of home,” he added.

PPCS welcomes all who would like to join them in the Surf-a-Thon.

You can download pledge forms and instructions from the PPCS Web site at www.paddleandchowder.org; call Duckworth, 460-7576; or e-mail kduckworth@msn.com.

I am certain that, even if you can’t participate, donations for this fund-raiser would be much appreciated and that Duckworth would be happy to tell you how to do that.

And I know that you, like me, hope Ridky thoroughly enjoys his novel way of participating in this novel event for a most worthy cause.

Go, Ridky!

For the fourth year, wrote Sherry French, board president of Pine Tree Hospice of Dover-Foxcroft and Greenville, that organization is sponsoring a free Children’s Bereavement Camp.

The program is specifically for children ages 10-15 who have experienced the death of a loved one within the past 18 months.

This year’s camp will run from Friday, Aug. 13, through Sunday, Aug. 15, and will be held at the East Sangerville Grange Hall in Sangerville.

According to the brochure, Big Buddies and trained volunteer facilitators lead group discussions dealing with issues of grief, and the young people enjoy recreational activities ranging from swimming and hiking to tenting out and crafts.

Family members of the campers are encouraged to attend a memorial service Sunday morning.

Anyone interested in this program can call PTH at either 564-4346 or 695-5283, or visit www.pinetreehospice.org.

To make a donation for camp expenses, make out a check to PTH and mail it to 895 W. Main St., Dover-Foxcroft 04426.

French told me that, while “it is unfortunate that there is a need” for such a program, it is fortunate that so many young people take advantage of the opportunity to attend.

“Each year we’ve been filled to capacity,” she said.

Ellen Dionne of Bangor contacted the NEWS recently to thank “our Westside friends,” Stephen and Tabitha King, for making the Beth Pacoe Pool a reality.

“What a big heart they have,” she wrote.

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