Some members of the "Pen Bay Chain Gang," the Trek Across Maine team from Penobscot Bay Medical Center. From left, Cynthia Bryant, RN, Oncology; Steve Koskinen, Facility Manager, Physicians Building; Brent Elliott, X-Ray Technologist, Radiology; Karl Smith, RN-C, Nursing Float Pool; and Diane Haskell, RRT, Respiratory Care. All work at PBMC.

PBMC Cycling Team Joins with 2,000 Riders to Support Lung Health

More than 2,000 bicyclists will travel 180 miles on Father's Day weekend to support the American Lung Association's "Own Your Air" campaign. The American Lung Association raises public awareness and works with public policy experts to adopt air quality standards that protect public health.

This is the 23rd year of the three-day event, called the "Trek Across Maine," which starts on June 13 at Sunday River Ski Resort in Bethel and ends June 15 on the coast in Belfast.

"I think it's a great cause and a healthy alternative way to raise funds," said Steve Koskinen, Facility Manager at the Physicians Building, Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport. Steve is a member of the "Pen Bay Chain Gang," the team supported by PBMC. "Also, I do mountain bike racing and I need to put in the miles," he added.

Team member Diane Haskell, RRT, Respiratory Care, said she'd been doing 10-mile loops to train for the event: "I only bike for the Trek, because I'm a board member of the American Lung Association. After the Trek, my bike goes back into the garage." She prefers tennis.

The Pen Bay Chain Gang allowed that their most accomplished rider is Karl Smith, RN-C, a nurse in the Float Pool at PBMC and a devoted cyclist who rides his bike to work most days. He lives in Hope, and the trip takes him about 20 minutes.

The first day of the Trek finishes at the University of Maine in Farmington, and the second day at Colby College in Waterville. Many cyclists plan to camp; others have reserved a bed on campus. All will have access to showers and even massages on the college campuses. There are rest stops every 20 miles with food provided by volunteers (more than 400 volunteers are involved in the trek as well). The word is that the food – most of which is donated – is "phenomenal."

The members of the Pen Bay Chain Gang are Dr. Richard Beauchesne, orthopedic surgeon; Kristin Brown, RN, PBMC Med-Surg South, and her son Michael Brown; Cynthia Bryant, RN, Cancer Care Services; Dr. Douglas Cole, surgeon; Brent Elliott, X-Ray Technologist, Radiology; Dr. Dana Goldsmith, Vice President for Medical Affairs; Diane Haskell; Steve Koskinen; Dr. Robert Merrill, family practice physician; Peter Scheib, physician assistant; Karl Smith and his brother Peter; Louise St. Laurent, RN, Operating Room; Dr. Donald Weaver, internal medicine; and Dr. Jay R. Wietecha, a dentist who practices in Waterville.

For more information about the Trek Across Maine, visit mainelung.org/Events/Trek.