Two years ago, former Dixmont resident Regina Erskine, 40, was diagnosed with celiac disease which, she discovered, is not a well-known illness.

Also known as celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, celiac disease is a genetic disorder that can affect children and adults, according to information provided by Erskine.

To help raise awareness about the disease, which Erskine believes is “largely unrecognized and under-diagnosed” in this country, she is planning a 4,000-mile cross-country bicycle trip from California to Maine, “Coast to Coast for Celiac.”

To help fund that trip, family and friends are hosting a public supper in support of the ride 4:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at the Dixmont Snowmobile Clubhouse on Route 7.

Admission is $5 for adults, $2.50 for children under 12 and free for those 5 and under.

Erskine will attend and speak about her ride and celiac disease.

A graduate of Nokomis Regional High School in Newport and the University of Maine in Orono, Erskine teaches health at Lyman Middle School in Portland.

Sonia Erskine of Dixmont wrote that her daughter’s ride is intended “to spread awareness and raise funds for research and education about celiac disease.”

To help jump-start that effort, Regina Erskine is making numerous public appearances before her ride, her mother wrote, and handing out brochures that she will distribute during the two-month trip.

Her daughter plans to leave San Diego, Calif., at the end of April and arrive in Portland on Saturday, July 2.

Making the trip with her will be cyclist Alex Gerberick of Portland and Beverly Winship of Unity, who will be driving a support vehicle.

For individuals with CD, certain types of grain-based proteins sets off an autoimmune response that causes damage to the small intestine, interfering with its ability to absorb the nutrients in food that leads to malnutrition and many other complications.

Gluten is found in wheat, barley, soy and possibly oats.

The risk of long-term complications increases the longer the disease is untreated.

Erskine points out in her brochure that “one recent study suggests 1 in 122 people in the U.S. have the disease, but only about 1 in 4,700 have been properly diagnosed with the disease.”

If you cannot attend but would like to help Erskine’s effort, checks can be made out to UMBF, Center for Celiac Research, and sent to Coast to Coast for Celiac, P.O. Box 8625, Portland 04104.

Contributions benefit the University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation Center for Celiac Research.

You can follow Erskine’s ride on the Web at www.c2c4celiac.info.

At Brewer Middle School, eighth-graders are in the process of collecting clothing from pupils and members of the community for a Giant Gym Sale 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at BMS, 5 Somerset St.

Clothing of all sizes, for all seasons (except underwear) is being accepted along with shoes and athletic apparel.

Proceeds will be used to help provide equipment and summer programming for the Brewer School Department Special Olympics program.

Clothing will be collected right up to the day of the sale, and the classroom or school group collecting the most items will win $100 to use as it chooses.

For more information, to arrange for a pickup in the local area, or a drop-off at BMS, call Nancy Snowdeal, 989-8640.

Walter Cook wrote that “as part of our community outreach,” members of Brownville Junction United Methodist Church are inviting members of the public to a free pre-Easter supper.

The meal, consisting of baked ham, potatoes, vegetables and dessert, will be served from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at the church, located on the corner of Railroad Avenue and Church Street in that community.

For more information, call Cook at 965-8410.

Spruce Run Association, the domestic violence agency serving Penobscot County, is offering Connections & Change: Domestic Abuse Education I, a 10-week basic education group, from mid-April through mid-June, in Bangor.

The sessions will cover types and causes of abuse, connections between gender roles and abuse, women and anger and healthy relationships and freedom.

Daytime and evening support groups are also available.

Children’s groups or child care assistance can be arranged for all groups.

For more information, call (800) 863-9909 or 945-5102.

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