MS chapter program night

HAMPDEN – The Maine Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Hampden Outreach Office, will hold a program night at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, at the office, 735 Main Road North. The speaker will be Sandy Lovell, director of the Family Planning Association of Maine. She has been living with relapsing-remitting MS for 25 years. A discussion about intimacy will take place after her presentation.

The mission of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is to end the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis. MS affects the central nervous system and can cause everything from blindness to paralysis in people between the ages of 15 and 50.

MS is considered a woman’s disease because it strikes two to three times more women than men. But for men diagnosed with the disease, it takes on a more progressive form.

Those who live in a cold climate for the first 15 years of life are more susceptible to the disease.

Currently, there is no known cause of cure for MS. Funds raised by the Maine Chapter goes toward medical research and development. To obtain more information, call Sue Tidd, 942-8352, or toll free, (800) 526-8890.

Infant mental health

BANGOR – The Penquis Community Action Program Resource Development Center will offer 18 hours of training, infant Mental Health: Issues and Practice for child care professionals 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Friday, June 10, and Saturday, June 11 and 25, at Penquis CAP, 262 Harlow St.

Registration is $15. To register or to obtain more information, call 973-3533.

Move and Improve walks

BREWER – Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems will be the host for Move and Improve walks around the region. At the end of the program a random drawing will be conducted and prizes awarded.

Move and Improve participants are encouraged to attend. The walks are open to everyone. Children age 17 or younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in the walk. Walks are held outdoors and appropriate dress is recommended.

A Bangor-Brewer walk will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 28, Cianchette Building, 43 Whiting Hill Road, Brewer. To obtain more information, call Nicole Hammar, 973-7245. To learn more about Move and Improve, visit moveandimprove.org.

New business

BREWER – The Brewer Physical Therapy and Spine Clinic, owned and operated by Anne Knowles, has opened for business at 611 Wilson St., in the Well Forms building, Brewer.

Knowles has 16 years of experience in orthopedic injuries and diseases and 10 years of experience in stroke, brain injury and other neurological diseases. She is certified in the McKenzie method of diagnosis and treatment of the spine.

Office hours are 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, Saturday hours by appointment. Call 989-9730 to obtain more information.

Successful WalkAmerica

BREWER – The March of Dimes recently held the Bangor, Brewer, Old Town WalkAmerica. More than 200 people braved the cold, rainy conditions to walk together to raise more than $38,000 in support of the March of Dimes efforts to prevent birth defects and infant mortality.

Funds raised by WalkAmerica help support research, education, community programs and advocacy work to prevent premature birth, a leading cause of newborn death and major cause lifelong disabilities.

Volunteers were asked to walk for someone they love and enthusiastically participated in teams, with their families and as individuals.

As people gathered early in the morning, Pam Stokes, the Ambassador Mother for 2005, spoke to the crowd, emphasizing the importance of the walks and the impact such efforts have had on her family.

The Junior Girl Scouts Color Guard Troop 78 presented the nation’s colors. Troop 78, based in Milford, was led by Marcy Smith and included Mariah Cyr, Kayla Day, Andrea Evans, Kendra Hayward, Jordan Neal, Jordan Roy, Morgan Smith and Emily Wilcox.

John Bapst Memorial High School juniors Kaitlyn Byleski and Jessica Frick sang the national anthem. Mayor Joe Ferris of Brewer, mayor Frank Farrington of Bangor and Lisa Morin, representing the mayor of Old Town, did the honors of cutting the ribbon to commence the event.

Walkers started and finished the walk at the Brewer Auditorium

The walk was successful because of the efforts of countless individuals. The top WalkAmerica team was the Hannaford Airport Mall store, which raised $4,000. Hannaford employee Paula Peirce raised $2,000 for her team. K-Mart, a top contributor, raised more than $5,000 selling paper cutout sneakers for the cause.

Check Point Sponsors included Oriental Jade, US Cellular, EZ To Use Telephone Directory, Joe Cyr Bus Co., Curves of Brewer and Realty of Maine. Refreshments were provided by Hannaford Brothers Supermarket, Bagel Central, Frank’s Bakery, Governor’s Restaurant and LaBree’s Bakery of Old Town.

For more information, visit marchofdimes.com, or call Gene Staffiere at 989-3376.

Camp Rainbow

Children affected by cancer, ages 4 through high school, are invited to attend the American Cancer Society’s Camp Rainbow the week of June 19. The society, in cooperation with Eastern Maine Medical Center, the Bangor Ronald McDonald House and the Bangor YMCA Camp Jordan, has been offering the weeklong camping experience to children with cancer for 18 years.

Thanks to the financial contributions from the American Cancer Society’s many friends and donors, participants attend Camp Rainbow free of charge.

Camp Rainbow operates at Camp Jordan on Branch Lake in Ellsworth, a facility on more than 200 acres with a well-developed waterfront, spacious dining hall, ropes course, various athletic areas, a theater stage and an arts and crafts building.

The camping experience helps children diagnosed with cancer, as well as their siblings, to meet others affected by cancer, to bolster their self-esteem and confidence and have fun.

Children currently in treatment for cancer, as well as those who are up to 10 years post-treatment, are eligible. Children ages 4 to 6 may attend with a parent or guardian; those 7 and older may attend alone.

Attendance is subject to the approval of the medical director. Maine children are given preference but children from out-of-state also are encouraged to apply.

Chemotherapy and blood tests are given on site by the medical staff. The Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Clinic at Eastern Maine Medical Center provides 24-hour medical staffing for the week. There is generally a ratio of eight campers to one cabin counselor, with two staff in each cabin at night.

For more information and an application for this year’s Camp Rainbow, call Cheryl Tucker, American Cancer Society, 373-3709, or (800) 464-3102, Press 3.