Concert to aid Old Town family battling illness

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Sometimes it seems as if life comes at you from all sides, with one mean punch after another. That has been happening for some time now to the family of Bill and Carol McCullagh.

The Old Town couple has six children, ranging in age from 5 to 21.

In 1995, at 31, Carol was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.

Two days later, one of their sons was diagnosed with the disease, and five years later, a daughter.

The couple had lived in Old Town for 14 years until recently when they lost their home to foreclosure because of the spiraling costs of medical treatment for Carol and the children. Bill continues trying to find and keep work while caring for his family’s immediate medical needs.

The family was fortunate when a fellow member of the Old Town Methodist Church, which they attend on Stillwater Avenue, came to their aid and provided them with a three-bedroom trailer to live in.

And while Medicare covers much of their medical costs, there are still prescriptions to be filled and nutritional drinks for the children that must be purchased while the debts keep mounting.

The couple has been fortunate to receive help from local organizations and friends, but now the members of their church are hoping you will extend your assistance as well.

A benefit concert featuring Tom Polley is planned for 6-7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at the Old Town Methodist Church.

There is no admission, but a love offering will be taken to benefit the McCullagh family.

The fundraiser will feature a variety of local talent.

For more information about how you can help, call 827-3559.

Here’s a “heads up” for people planning to participate in the 2006 Manpower MS Walk presented by Motor Home and RV Super Center at 11 Maine sites to benefit the Maine Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Those events each begin at 9:15 a.m. Saturday, April 8.

The sites are Togus VA Medical Center for the Augusta area; Brewer Auditorium for Bangor-Brewer; Brunswick Junior High School; Colby College in Waterville; Lewiston High School for Androscoggin County; Camden/Rockport Middle School; Scarborough High School for Greater Portland; Sanford High School; Ellsworth Middle School; Eastport Youth Center; and Consolidated Elementary School in Kennebunk.

With the exception of the four-mile Waterville area and four-mile Eastport area walks, all walks are five miles.

More than 4,000 walkers statewide are expected to participate, and the MS Maine Chapter’s largest fundraiser of the year expects to bring in between $400,000 and $500,000.

Individuals and teams are encouraged to register at www.msmaine.org or by calling the MS Maine Chapter at (800) 526-8890.

Kevin Birch, director of the Chamber Choir at St. John’s Parish in Bangor, invites you to hear “Sacred Music for Lent” performed by the choir at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at St. John’s Catholic Church, 207 York St.

Birch wrote that admission is free, although donations will be accepted in support of the Ecumenical Food Cupboard, which is located at Hammond Street Congregational Church in Bangor.

The Chamber Choir, founded in 1995, specializes in a cappella sacred music, ranging from early chants to modern works.

The program will feature special pieces, including Agnus Dei and organ works performed on the historic E. & G.G. Hook Organ that dates to 1860.

Wallace Blowers is the treasurer of the LaGrange Veterans Monument Committee.

He wrote recently that contributions are now being accepted for a yard sale and auction, which is planned for Saturday, May 20, at the LaGrange Fire Station.

Proceeds will benefit the monument fund.

Your donations can be dropped of at the LaGrange town office, at the home of Roger Stanley on Bennoch Road in LaGrange or at Blowers’ home, 63 Medford Road in LaGrange.

For more information about the fundraiser or the work of this committee, call Blowers at 943-2064 or Stanley at 943-2564.

Donations are now being accepted for the Hampden Fire Department yard sale to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, which is set for Friday, April 28, and Saturday, April 29, at the Hampden Municipal Building.

Individuals interested in donating goods should call the Fire Department at 862-4586, drop donations off at the municipal building or make arrangements through the department to have them picked up.

For more information, call Donna Smith, 848-7424, or the MDA office at 854-3749.

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