AUBURN — Following a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mary’s Firemen for a Cure is set to return Saturday, Feb. 25 to Lost Valley Ski Area, 200 Lost Valley Road.
Firefighter teams will be made up of four racers for the first time. Every other year, each department needed to field a team of five.
Since 2004, Mary’s Firemen has raised more than $250,000 breast cancer patients in Maine and to raise awareness of this deadly disease.
The firefighters’ race features races between departments from around northern New England. Teams of firefighters will race down a slalom course in full turnout gear while carrying a 50-foot length of hose. In addition to the races, there will be kids’ events, raffles, a 50/50 and a live auction.
In 2004, Mary and Wayne Allen started Firemen for a Cure at Shawnee Peak in Bridgton to give firefighters the opportunity to raise awareness about breast cancer. Mary was a long-time employee at Shawnee Peak and had been fighting breast cancer for nearly 10 years. Wayne is a volunteer firefighter in North Bridgton, according to a news release from Dave Soutter, Mary Allen’s son and an event organizer.
After Mary died in 2005, Wayne and her three adult children, Christine, David and Ryan Soutter, renamed the event in her name and have been holding the event in her memory.
“I know Mary is watching and is so happy that we were able to come back after the pandemic,” said Mary’s husband Wayne.
WMTW personality Meghan Torjussen will return as emcee for this year’s event. Registration will begin at 10 a.m. on Feb. 25, with the race beginning at 1 p.m. The entry fee is $125 per team, which includes four day/night lift tickets for the day of the event and a chili lunch.
Teams that register by Wednesday, Feb. 15 will also receive a T-shirt for each racer. Discounted lift tickets are also available for family members of racers.
To register a team, to learn more or to make a donation, visit facebook.com/MarysFiremenforaCure. For any questions, email [email protected].