The Eastern Trail is both a trail and a vision. The Eastern Trail has 22 off-road miles from Bug Light (in South Portland) to Kennebunk, as well as a scenic on-road route that mostly follows quiet country roads. Experienced bike riders and hikers can enjoy a beautiful journey from South Portland's Bug Light Park on Casco Bay (near Portland) to Kittery's Piscataqua River.
Today, to complete this vision, we are aggressively developing plans and funds to both close a critical 1.6-mile gap between South Portland and Scarborough and then add 19 miles between Kennebunk and South Berwick.
A formal fundraising campaign, “Close the Gap” has already raised $3.3 million toward the goal of $4.1 million. The Maine DOT views completing this segment as the “highest priority” trail project in the state, and has committed $1.55 million towards its completion. In addition, the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS) has generously committed over $1.1 million towards the project. The balance of the funding for the project is being provided by generous individuals, as well as municipalities, corporate and non-profit partners, and in-kind services in the way of construction materials and labor.
Your support will help us get there.
Mend Health and Wellness of Maine is a family run, small business led by the husband and wife owners of Dr Tracey St John and Dr Victor St John. As a newly opened business in the great town of Scarborough, Dr’s St John wanted to get involved and support the community where they live and raise their family. After hearing about the close the gap campaign, Mend Health and Wellness of Maine reached out to the Eastern Trail last fall to help organize a 10K for additional fund raising efforts. Mend Health and Wellness of Maine is a proud sponsor and host of the first annual Mend the Gap 10K.
All proceeds from this Expo and 10K will benefit the Eastern Trail Alliance, an organization dedicated to building a 65-mile transportation and recreation greenway from Kittery to South Portland, Maine and will go directly to support the Close the Gap Campaign. The construction of this trail segment, which includes two bridges will close this gap between South Portland and Scarborough and provide 16 continuous off-road miles reaching from South Portland’s Bug Light to Downtown Saco. we are in the final stages of fundraising for this most critical project and your support will help aid in the maintenance and continued improvements on the Eastern Trail.
We hope to see everyone soon!
Mend the Gap 10k will be held on Sunday July, 1 2018. the race will star promptly at 8am rain or shine.
The Mend Health and Wellness Expo will be on Saturday June, 30 2018 from 12-5pm.
Participants will be able to avoid the crowds and pick up their race bibs and T-shirt (if ordered before 6/7) ahead of the race on Saturday, June 30, 2018 between 12 and 5pm at the Mend Health and Wellness Expo
The 10K Race starting line will be at Peterson Field Sports Complex located off Old Blue Point Road. The address is 138 Old Blue Point Road, Scarborough, ME.
The Health Expo will be at Mend Health of Maine office parking lot (Dunstan Corner) located at 605 US Route 1 Suite G, in Scarborough, ME.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for this event emails may be directed to Jen Steele Skillings coordinator at jen@easterntrail.org
To participate as a vendor at our Mend Health and Wellness EXPO, you can contact Mend Health directly at (207) 289-6005 or download our vendor agreement form HERE.
To register for the race you can click the sign up link on the left navigation menu and register online at active.com or you can fill out a form in person at our office location in Scarborough, Maine.
Registration fees are $25 prior to the event, $30 on the day of the event. Online registration will close at 7:00 pm on Saturday, June 30th
All proceeds will go to the Eastern Trail Alliance, a 501c3 nonprofit, to assist in Closing the Gap (1.6 miles stretch between Scarborough and South Portland)
Race day packet-pick up, check in and on-site registration will be at Peterson Sports Complex, 135 Old Blue Point Road, Scarborough. On site registration and check-in is from 6:30 to 7:30 AM on Sunday, July 1st. Please plan to arrive for sign-in an hour before the race starts. We encourage carpooling to alleviate parking congestion.
This is a tobacco-free, rain or shine, event. Strollers and dogs are not allowed. Registration fees cannot be refunded or transferred to a future event.
The route begins and ends at Peterson Sports Complex - out and back on the scenic, Scarborough Marsh off road section of the Eastern Trail in Scarborough. There will be a water stop mid-way and at the end.
Award ceremony will be held at Peterson Sports Complex.