Paddle with a purpose
Register now for the Paddle for Pine Tree Camp

(May 9, 2005) –  Join hundreds of Maine kayakers and canoeists of all skill levels, and register to Paddle for Pine Tree Camp on Sat., June 4 and Sun., June 5.  The Paddle for Pine Tree Camp will take to waterways throughout Maine in support of Pine Tree Camp, an extraordinary summer camp for Maine children and adults with disabilities.

The 2005 Paddle for Pine Tree Camp features five sites:

• Kennebec River with Maine Guide Darrell Buzzell

• Saco River with SacoBound

• Androscoggin River with Sun Valley Sports and Maine Handicapped Skiing

• Swan Lake State Park in Belfast

• Sea Kayaking in Brunswick with Seaspray Kayaking

Note: Sea Kayaking will take place on Sunday, June 5th

Each site features a free shuttle service, a beautiful paddling trip and a celebratory barbecue for all registered participants. The Paddle for Pine Tree Camp began as a grassroots event after Maine Guide Darrell Buzzell spent a day at Pine Tree Camp teaching adaptive kayaking.

After seeing first-hand what a difference Pine Tree Camp makes in the lives of children and adults with disabilities, he felt he had to do something more and thus the Paddle for Pine Tree Camp was born. “The Paddle seemed like a natural way for us to be able to support Pine Tree Camp,” he said.  “There’s nothing better than doing something you love to help a great cause.”

That year's Paddle for Pine Tree Camp started out as a small event with just a few paddlers.  Over the years, the Paddle for Pine Tree Camp has involved hundreds of participants, volunteers, and sponsors, raising more than $78,000 since it began in 1997.

Kayakers and canoeists raise money for Pine Tree campers by collecting pledges per mile or accepting straight contributions. Sponsors and other corporate contributors donate money, products and services to show their support for this statewide event.

To register or for more information, please visit the Pine Tree
Society’s Web site, www.pinetreesociety.org, call (207) 934-7962 or e-mail kdorer@pinetreesociety.org.

The Paddle for Pine Tree Camp would not be possible without the generous support of Paddle sponsor Hammond Lumber, as well as Cole Haan, Central Maine Power, Sun Valley Sports, New England Outdoor Center, SacoBound, Seaspray Kayaking, Sebasco Harbor Resort, Maine Handicapped Skiing, G.M. Pollack and Sons, Albin, Randall & Bennett, Disability Consulting Group, Time Warner Cable, Madison Paper, Hamilton Marine, Day’s Store of Belgrade and with deep gratitude to our founders Darrell & Carole Buzzell of Kineo Kayak Guide Service.

Pine Tree Camp, a program of Pine Tree Society, was established in 1945 as a summer therapy outlet for children with disabilities. Over the years, it has evolved into an innovative barrier-free environment offering fully-accessible recreation to Maine people with disabilities.

Over the years, Pine Tree Camp has welcomed anyone who could benefit from the experience, regardless of their ability to pay tuition. Fund-raising events like the Paddle for Pine Tree Camp are held throughout the year to raise tuition assistance funds for campers and their families, thus keeping the camp’s “open door policy” firmly in place.

For more than 60 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.

-- 30 --