Cancer patient support group seeks donations

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Recently, I received a letter from attorney Matt Lapin, chairman of the Oncology Support Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Orono.

The mission of OSF is to provide “support to cancer patients and their families in central, eastern and northern Maine in coping with the disease of cancer in its many forms.” It is funded by grants and individual donations, and through fundraising events.

Right now, the foundation needs your help and support.

“During the past year,” Lapin wrote, OSF provided “$1,000 in gas cards to cancer patients at CancerCare of Maine” in Bangor.

That program was made possible “through the generosity of Webber Energy Fuels, who would contribute one $25 gas card for each $25 gas card OSF purchased,” he explained.

“Many of the cancer patients must travel several hundred miles a day for treatment. Either they are unable to work, or their support person has to stay off work to help the patient.”

However, Lapin added, “Webber is unable to continue this contribution, at the present time, and we have not been able to locate another source for assistance” to support the program.

“With the number of patients coming to CancerCare of Maine increasing each month, the need is increasing.”

In addition to the gas cards, OSF has “provided payment for car repairs for a patient in order for him to be able to come to treatment.

“We have furnished three weeks of meals for three special-needs children of a cancer surgery patient.”

And then Lapin made this excellent point: “There are many sources to aid in cancer research, but Oncology Support Foundation tries to help in small ways to make life better for the patients.”

That is why Lapin wants readers to know “any contributions would be most appreciated to help in this effort.”

If you can help, even in a small way, contact OSF at P.O. Box 622, Orono 04473, call 866-0200, fax 866-0300 or e-mail nabg@verizon.net.

Alice Walden wrote that the public is invited to enjoy Fat Tuesday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, at the Orono United Methodist Church.

The meal for Shrove Tuesday, which is the feast before the Lenten fast, includes pancakes with blueberries or strawberries and cream, sausage and hash browns.

Admission is $5 for adults, $2.50 for children 4-13, and free for children under 4.

The fundraiser is sponsored by the United Methodist Women.

Carol Higgins reports that Eastern Agency on Aging is offering the AARP Driver Safety Program from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. both Friday, Feb. 23, and Monday, Feb. 26, at the agency offices, 450 Essex St., Bangor.

The cost of the course is $10, and it is limited to 25 participants 50 and older.

You can register by calling EAA at (800) 432-7812 or 941-2865.

The eight-hour course addresses the physical changes that may affect driving ability when someone reaches 50 or older.

The course covers the current driving manual to refresh and update knowledge of driving regulations, and offers participants an opportunity to discuss challenges older drivers face when driving and learning how others deal with them.

Jessica Blais of the Goodwill Industries Northern New England office in Portland has announced that you can bring your old cell phones and accessories to any of the 23 Goodwill stores in Maine and New Hampshire.

The phones and accessories will be recycled, and you will receive a tax deduction based on the fair market value of your donation.

The phones will be recycled by ReCellular, a national company based in Dexter, Mich.

ReCellular dissects the phones and combines them with other parts to make new phones, half of which are sent to developing countries and half to domestic resellers.

Funds received for cell phone donations benefit Goodwill’s human service programs for people with disabilities living in Maine and New Hampshire.

For more information, visit www.ginne.org.

Congratulations are extended to Don Hanson, co-owner of Green Acres Kennel Shop in Bangor, who has been elected president of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.

According to a release, APDT, which is based in Greenville, S.C., is the largest organization of dog training professionals in the world.

Founded in 1993, the organization of more than 5,000 members has a mission of “promoting caring relationships between dogs and people by educating trainers in canine behavior and emphasizing professionalism and reward-based training.”

More information about APDT is available at www.aptd.com.

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