Looking for an excuse to buy new running shoes, get in shape and make a difference in the world? Get in the “pink,” with ribbons that is, by participating in the Komen Maine Race for the Cure.

Sadly, as women age, the risk for breast cancer increases. But awareness, education, risk reduction and early detection can lead the way in prevention or survival. Ro LeGasse and Robin Long of Caring Connections will be pounding the pavement, so to speak, to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research.

If you’d like to be a part of something bigger than yourself but don’t want to do it alone, and you have nonmotivated or athletically challenged friends, Le Gasse and Long have just the thing. They’re encouraging people to join the ENCORE Energizers team and walk or run in the Race for the Cure.

Thousands of sneaker-clad feet will congregate at the beautiful Bangor waterfront on Sunday, Sept. 18, to begin a 5K loop which returns to the starting point for a celebration of life.

Not up to a 5K? Join the 1K fun walk just before the race.

“We hope to have the largest Race for the Cure team and hope to raise the most money,” said LeGasse, director of Caring Connections.

“A large percentage of the funds raised by the race stay in Maine,” she said, “and the Race for the Cure funds Bridging Books – our program that provides a resource packet to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer – and Bridging the Gap – the breast health program for women who are 20 to 39 years old. Our goal is to have 100 ENCORE Energizer team members and raise at least $4,000 in pledges. I know we can do it. We just need a little help from our friends and families.”

You can be a member of the ENCORE Energizers even if you don’t attend the race, said Le Gasse.

“Not an early riser? You can register as a ‘Sleep In’ team member for $25 and receive a race packet and a new pillowcase. It’s a chance to participate and still sleep in. Isn’t that a neat idea?” she said.

I would say so, being athletically challenged myself and always on the lookout for nice pillowcases.

For more information on the ENCORE Energizers and how to be a part of this enthusiastic team effort, call the Bangor Y at 941-2808 and ask for Caring Connections.

You’ll be glad you did.

I know it’s still summer and thinking ahead to a cold, dark January can be depressing. However, the new Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit will take effect Jan. 1, 2006, and Eastern Agency on Aging wants to help seniors and others on Medicare get ready for it.

EAA will offer two free sessions in which Medicare beneficiaries can complete the “extra help” application. This “extra help” is designed to provide assistance with co-payments, deductibles and costs associated with this new Medicare program.

“We are asking that all Medicare beneficiaries consider filling out an application,” said Val Sauda, director of outreach at EAA. “It is very important that people don’t weed themselves out of the process by assuming that they have too high an income. You just never know, and if someone is eligible for the extra help, we want to make sure it is received.”

And if you received a letter from Social Security regarding the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit, bring it with you to the session.

To register, call EAA at 941-2865. Dates are as follows:

. 1-4 p.m. Friday, July 15, with Fran Lee of Social Security and EAA staff.

. 9 a.m.-noon Tuesday, July 26, with Fran Lee of Social Security and EAA staff.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For more information on EAA, call 941-2865 or log on www.eaaa.org.