Blaine Moore Entering Grueling Homestretch of Goal to Run 500 Miles in January to Raise Money for Camp Sunshine
As part of his 1 More Mile for Sunshine Challenge, Moore is adding one more mile each day to his runs throughout the month

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Posted Thursday, 21 January, 2010

CASCO, Maine (January 21, 2010) – Apparently it’s going to take a lot more than a snowstorm (or three) to stop Blaine Moore from achieving his goal of running 500 miles in January to raise money for Camp Sunshine.

The Windham man is showing no signs of letting up as he enters the grueling homestretch of his 1 More Mile for Sunshine Challenge – a Herculean effort to add one more mile each day to his training runs throughout the month. He celebrated his 30th birthday, for example, with 15 miles of running on Jan. 15.

Moore had logged 218 miles through Jan. 20 (almost 33 hours of running), and has 287 to go – capping off with 31 miles of running on January 31. So far Moore has endured bitter cold temps and dodged snowplows and cars, but he remains determined to make it to the end. His goal is to raise $4,500 for Camp Sunshine, a one-of-a-kind national retreat in Maine for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

For daily updates from Moore, or to donate money to his solo fundraiser, visit www.1moremileforsunshine.com.

“Camp Sunshine is such a wonderful organization because it doesn’t just help the children but their whole families,” Moore said. “If I can reach my goal of $4,500, it will pay for three families to come to Camp Sunshine and receive these valuable services.”

Camp Sunshine, located in Casco in Maine's Sebago Lake region, provides a camp vacation at no charge to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. The camp offers the only program in the nation whose mission is to address the impact of the serious illness on every member of the immediate family. While attending the various week-long camps, families are able to rebuild relationships together and meet other families facing similar challenges.

“We are so grateful for Blaine and what he is trying to achieve, all for the good of the children and families that we serve,” said Matthew Hoidal, executive director of Camp Sunshine. “We hope people will recognize just what he is attempting here and why, and then contribute to his cause. We wish him all the luck.”

Moore is an avid runner and coach at the Maine Running Company in Portland. He has run 13 marathons and three ultra-marathons in his career.

Moore said he wakes early to get a run in before work, often using Twin Brooks Farm or local snowmobile trails, then tries to run at lunch on Portland streets or after work to finish up any remaining miles. During a nine-mile morning run during a snowstorm on Tuesday, he needed to jump out of the way of a snow plow. That evening, he reached his daily goal with a four-mile run after dinner. Then Moore shoveled the driveway. He provides daily updates of his progress, including video logs, on his website at www.1moremileforsunshine.com.

Founded in 1984, Camp Sunshine (www.campsunshine.org) is staffed primarily by volunteers, many of whom return year after year, and includes 24-hour onsite medical and psychological support. Bereavement groups also are offered for families who have lost a child to an illness.

Founded in 1984, Camp Sunshine has provided a camp experience to more than 30,000 sick children, siblings and parents. For more information about Camp Sunshine’s programs, which now take place year-round, and to learn more about volunteering or making a donation, visit the camp’s website at www.campsunshine.org, or call (207) 655-3800.

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