2007 Snowmobile Ride-in tops $150,000

BATH, Maine (February 16, 2007) – Thanks to a fresh four-inch cover of snow, conditions were ideal for the 2007 Dead River Company Snowmobile Ride-in to benefit Pine Tree Camp.  The event, which took place Friday, February 2, and Saturday, February 3, in Newport, was marked by a fantastic turnout and an incredible final total.

Hundreds of snowmobilers and friends of Pine Tree Camp gathered in Newport for the annual event.  So many in fact that all meals were sold out!  All in all, the 2007 Ride-in raised more than $150,000 for Pine Tree Camp. 

The Q106.5 Egg Ride alone raised more than $50,000 toward the grand total.  A huge thank you goes out to the team at Q106.5.  Their commitment to Pine Tree Camp and the people we serve is contagious and very much appreciated. We’d also like to thank the celebrity riders including Paul Jacques, Deputy Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; Pat McGowan, Commissioner of the Department of Conservation; Todd Simcox of WABI-TV 5 and members of the Q106.5 team.

The event ended with an announcement of the 2007 inductees of the Pine Tree Camp Snowmobile Hall of Fame.  Bob and Peg Meyers, Paul Jacques, Newport-Plymouth Elementary School students, Phil and Barbara Brown and Ricky Turner were all recognized for their commitment to Pine Tree Camp.

Pine Tree Society thanks sponsors including Dead River Company and Toyota.  “We truly appreciate the on-going support of Dead River and we were happy to welcome the All-New 2007 Toyota Tundra as the official truck of the 2007 Ride-in,” said Harvey Chesley, Director of Facilities Management at Pine Tree Camp.  “I’d also like to recognize Sappi Paper, Cat Trax, and WABI-TV 5.” 

At Pine Tree Camp, children with disabilities are able to spend 10 days participating in activities that normally aren’t available to them including hiking on accessible nature trails, swimming, fishing and boating.  At Pine Tree Camp, campers leave their disabilities at the gate and are able to experience real freedom in a barrier-free environment.   

Each year we welcome 500 Maine children and young adults with disabilities with open arms with no regard to their family’s ability to pay the $1,500 tuition.  Each year, Maine snowmobilers make this possible.  To date, Maine snowmobilers have raised more than $3.2 million for Pine Tree Camp. 

Pine Tree Camp, located on the shores of North Pond in Rome, was established in 1945 as a summer therapy outlet for children with disabilities. Over the years, Pine Tree Camp has evolved into an innovative barrier-free environment offering fully-accessible recreation to people with disabilities throughout the year. 

For many campers attending Pine Tree Camp is their only opportunity to experience all the outdoor recreation activities Maine has to offer.  During their stay campers spend time taking part in typical summer time activities including boating and fishing on adaptive pontoon boats, kayaking, participating in adaptive outdoor games including archery, soccer, baseball and basketball and enjoying the new accessible nature trails leading to a scenic dam.

For 70 years, Pine Tree Society has been providing Maine children and adults with disabilities the opportunities and the means to create better lives for themselves and their families.  For more information, please call (207) 443-3341 or visit our Web site, www.pinetreesociety.org.

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