On behalf of the Trekkers staff, students and the Thomaston Trek 2016 planning committee, I want to express my sincere gratitude to all the local businesses and individuals who helped make our June 5th 5K/10K Run & 5K Walk event such a success. With the community's support, we raised more than $4,000 to support our year-round programming. In addition, 27 Trekkers students raised more than $6,700 in pledges toward their annual dues. The proceeds from this event will help our students participate in experiential learning programs this year—including life-changing expeditions, community service projects and adventure-based education.

We had 97 registrants, ages 10 to 78, who ran or walked to support our students through this 3rd annual Thomaston Trek. We also had 65 volunteers who helped with set up, registration, route monitoring, finish line, timing, the pancake breakfast and clean-up duty.

With all that support, there are lots of people to thank, including Hank Carey and the Thomaston Academy, Wendy Buretta, Knox EMA, the Thomaston Select Board, Thomaston Police Department, the St. James Church, and all of the other wonderful volunteers who helped make the entire event run so smoothly. Our thanks also go to Scott Yakovenko and The Slipway Restaurant for providing such a wonderful venue for the pancake breakfast, and for providing gift certificates to the prize winners.

We are also grateful to our amazing sponsors, including our Lead Sponsor, First National Bank, and these area businesses: Bay Chiropractic Center, Camden Cone, Camden National Bank Camden Real Estate Company, Eastern Tire & Auto Service, Fisher Engineering, Glen Cove Dental Associates, Granite Coast Orthodontics, Hall's of Thomaston, Harbor Builders, Harbor Road Veterinary Hospital, Maine Coast Petroleum, Midcoast Handyman Services, Mr. Tire, Ocean Pursuits, Sidecountry Sports, St. George Realty, Strong Insurance Agency, Superior Bait and Salt, The Slipway, Thomaston Boat & Engine Works, Inc., and Thomaston Grocery. Trekkers truly appreciates the generosity of all our sponsors. We encourage everyone to support these local enterprises.

And, of course, we want to thank all the Thomaston Trek participants, along with the student and parent volunteers, the Trekkers staff, and the event committee who helped plan and organize this fundraising event: Michael Hersom, Alli Young, Britta Sturks, Nancy Carter, Joyce Burnham and Shari Closter.

As Trekkers celebrates its 22nd year of mentoring youth from the Midcoast area, we continue to be humbled and amazed by the outpouring of support we receive from the community. It is through the community's steadfast support that we are able to achieve the Trekkers' mission of connecting young people with caring adults through expeditionary learning, community service and adventure-based education. We can't thank you enough for your continued support and for helping to make this third annual Thomaston Trek so successful.

Amie Hutchison is executive director of Trekkers