EVENTS > Trek Across Maine > FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Trek Across Maine?
2. Sounds Fun! How do I register?
3. Do I have to fundraise?
4. Are there fundraising incentives for the Trek and how do I get them?
5. Can I donate my incentives back to the Lung Association?
6. How do I get to the Trek start and home from finish line?
7. How can my friends and family participate in the Trek?
8. I know someone who is riding the Trek! Can I form a team?
9. Can I do my fundraising online?
10. Where does the money go that is raised for the Trek?
11. What does my participation in the Trek include?
12. What are the weekend accommodations?
13. Do I need to Check-In at the event?
14. What is Speedy Check-in?
15. What is the route and where does it travel?

1. What is the Trek Across Maine?
The Trek is a three-day bicycle ride held annually on Father’s Day weekend in June. The ride is approximately 180 miles across Maine, from the mountains of Sunday River Ski Resort in Bethel to the Finish Line (To Be Determined), on the coast of Maine. We have overnight stops at the University of Maine in Farmington and Colby College in Waterville.

2. Sounds Fun! How do I register?
You may register online here with your $50 non-refundable, non-transferable fee.

3. Do I have to fundraise?
Yes. Each Trekker is required to raise a minimum of $500. Last year the average Trekker raised $700 however, just by registering, you have already proven that you are better than average. Set your sights on raising $1,000 or more and join our “Winners Circle” of fundraisers and receive VIP treatment throughout the entire weekend of the Trek.

4. Are there fundraising incentives for the Trek and how do I get them?
Fundraising incentives are a fun way to for you to raise more money and offered for those that raise more than $500. The more you raise the more incentives you can earn. For a current list of incentives, please check out our incentive section of the website.

5. Can I donate my incentives back to the Lung Association?
Yes, the American Lung Association of Maine loves to reward you for your fundraising efforts. However, if you would like to contribute more to the organization’s work – this is a quick and easy way. This helps reduce our expenses and enables us to provide more funding to local programs and our Asthma Research Center.

6. How do I get to the Sunday River Ski Resort start and home from the finish line?
ALAME is happy to provide bus services through Cyr Bus Lines for transporting Trekkers to and from the event. Busses depart on Thursday afternoon from Portland, Freeport and the Finish Line to Sunday River and on Sunday from the Finish Line back to Sunday River, Freeport and Portland. Bus reservations begin April 1st on a first come, first served basis.  Watch the website for a complete departure schedule and online bus reservations.  Due to the time sensitive nature of filling the busses, reservations will only be accepted online or via phone with a credit card.

7. How can my friends and family participate in the Trek?
They can make a donation toward your fundraising here. Ask family, friends and co-workers first. Be optimistic and share your enthusiasm about why you are riding.

Friends and family may also choose to support you by volunteering. Each year more than 400 volunteers are needed to ensure that the event runs smoothly. 
If you are interested in volunteering please complete our online form.

8. I know someone who is riding the Trek! Can I form a team?
Yes. Cycling with a team is more fun! Working as part of a team makes it easier to reach your fundraising goals and also provides a group of friends to train with. Each team must consist of 5 or more people. Each cyclist must register individually for the Trek and then join your team. For more information go here!

9. Can I do my fundraising online?
Yes. We would appreciate your support of our efforts towards a “greener Trek”. We encourage you to go paperless and utilize our online fundraising tools. Participants have found that our online fundraising tools make fundraising easy. Each Trekker may create a personal fundraising page online. Creating a personal web page allows you to share your tour experience with family and friends. Our online tools make fundraising easy and fun! Once your fundraising page is created you can email it to family or friends to ask them for a donation, track your fundraising progress, or edit your personal information or settings. Paperless fundraising saves all of us paper and postage and also reduces the Trek's environmental impact. Go here for online fundraising!

10. Where does the money go that is raised for the Trek?
The money raised by the Trek supports the work of the American Lung Association of Maine. Almost 90% of the money we raise stays in Maine and is used to support lung health research, education and advocacy work. The 2007 Trek raised over a million dollars to support our work. An additional 6% supports our national research and advocacy programs. This event attracted over 1700 riders, thousands of supporters, a group of dedicated sponsors and 400 volunteers!

11. What does my participation in the Trek include?
ALAME provides overnight accommodations, breakfast and dinner at UMF and Colby College. Along the route, we have medical support, rest stops, and mechanical assistance. At the Finish Line on the last day, we provide lunch. You
will also receive an event T-shirt, a route map, entertainment each day, great staff/volunteer support for the weekend and friendships that can last a lifetime.

12. What are the accommodations?
When you register you may choose from the following options: a dorm bed, camping, or the gym/field house. You may also choose to make your own arrangements at a local motel.

13. Do I need to check-in at the event?
Yes. To ensure the safety of each participant we need to know that you are riding. Each person must attend our Check-In at the Summit Hotel at Sunday River with the required minimum and paperwork. Save time and avoid the lines. If you turn in the required paperwork and have documented $500 in payments and or pledges by May 27th, you qualify for our Speedy Check-In.

14. What is Speedy Check-in?
Speedy Check-in is for those participants who have provided us with their $500 fundraising minimum, Bike Inspection form and Safety/Code of Conduct form prior to May 27th. These items must be postmarked by May 27th in order to qualify for Speedy Check-In.

15. What is the Trek route?
The route varies slightly from year to year and always begins on Friday in Bethel at Sunday River with a stop in Farmington for the first night and Waterville on Saturday. The ride ends along the beautiful coast of Maine.