Andy Santerre Snowmobile Ride Raises $40,000 for Sexual Assualt Services
Caribou, Maine, February 11, 2008:
Cherryfield native, four-time Busch North Series Champion, and owner of Andy
Santerre Motorsports (ASM), Andy Santerre, joined "270 of his new best
friends" at the Caribou Inn & Convention Center on February 9th to help AMHC
Sexual Assault Services raise $40,000 to help provide "free" rape crisis and
support services to the victims of sexual assault in Aroostook County,
especially for children under the age of 18. This brings the four-year funds
raised total for the annual event to more than $95,000.
Santerre is the 2002-2005 NASCAR Busch North Series Champion, a racing team
crew chief for, and owner of, Andy Santerre Motorsports, and a driver for
the newly formed "Old School Racing Championship Tour" slated to kick-off in
May 2008.
Santerre started the event day at 8:30 am with a 100-mile snowmobile ride.
Andy was joined by members of his racing team, 2007 Busch East Series Rookie
of the Year Jeffrey Earnhardt who is the grandson of legend 7-time NASCAR
Champion Dale Earnhardt, Busch East Drivers Jamie Hayes and Peyton Sellers,
Hendrick Motorsports team members, DEI crew team members, racing fans, and
snow sledding aficionados. The ride left from the Caribou Inn, heading to
the Washburn Trailrunners clubhouse for a short stop. Then continued to
beautiful Aroostook State Park circled back through Chapman and Mapleton to
the Caribou Inn. An exciting part of the event was being followed by a plane
with photos being taken from the air of the Sno-Run in action by Paul Cyr of
Presque Isle. A big thank you goes out to the Presque Isle Snowmobile Club
who hosted Lunch for 130 sledders at their clubhouse in Aroostook State
Park. Also thanks to the Caribou, Washburn, Presque Isle, Mapleton, and
Chapman Trail Clubs for the great trails. We also thank the Caribou and
Presque Isle Police Departments for road crossings. Following the
snowmobile ride, Santerre, Earnhardt, Hayes, and Sellers NASCAR racing
professionals, hosted a cocktail reception and autograph session poolside at
the Caribou Inn. The evening was be capped off by a sumptuous banquet
dinner and fun-filled NASCAR memorabilia auction led by Santerre.
A sold out crowd of 270 attended the dinner and charity auction, which
offered more than 150 items donated by ASM, NASCAR drivers and teams, local
businesses, friends of AMHC, and AMHC employees. The most popular auction
items generating heavy bidding was for an "Autographed" Simpson Helmet
signed by all drivers in the Hendrick Organization, "Crew Member of the
Race" w/Andy Santerre Motorsports. The winner and a friend will be honorary
Pit Crew Members and stay with the team, eat with the team and be part of
the team for a weekend. Hotels, Meals, Fuel & Pit Passes Included,
"Authentic" NASCAR Race Hood From Dale Earnhardt Inc. For the fourth year
running, the volunteer auctioneer was Steve Richard who does a tremendous
job at keeping the crowd involved.
Joining Andy for the event was Jeffrey Earnhardt, driver of the # 1 Bass Pro
Shops Chevrolet from the DEI racing stable, Jamie Hayes, Peyton Sellers and
Hendrick Motorsports was represented by Shane Parsno and Scott Foxx, engine
builders for the Nextel Cup Team featuring drivers Jeff Gordon, Jimmie
Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Casey Mears. George Campbell and Greg Fish
of North East Racing News covered the event for Busch East Scene.
The 2008 annual Andy Santerre Sno-Run was sponsored by AMHC, Caribou Savings
Bank of Maine, County Sports Polaris, and Clukey's Auto Supply, Cushman's
Embroidery, and ASM Motorsports. The annual event is organized by Lorraine
Chamberlain, AMHC Director of Outpatient and Emergency Services and husband
Joe Chamberlain. Before the auction began, Andy Santerre personally thanked
all who attended the event to raise needed funds for sexual assault
services, Joe and Lorraine Chamberlain, AMHC staff, his family, and his wife
and business partner, Sue Santerre, who arranged for many auction items to
be donated. Andy also brought Jamie Hayes up to present a $10,000 donation
from the Hendrick Foundation for Children. This foundation was founded on
Jamie's uncle John Hendrick's good works for children. Joe Chamberlain
recognized Andy and Sue Santerre for their personal and professional support
in helping raise funds and awareness of sexual assault services. Lorraine
Chamberlain presented certificates of appreciation to County Sports Polaris,
Clukey's Auto Parts, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Jamie Hayes, Peyton Sellers, Stephen
Cole of Pensotti North America, Sign Place, Kathy McCarty, Sound
Friendships, Caribou Inn, Steve Richard, and Presque Isle Snowmobile Club.
Lorraine thanked Sandy Guerrette, Deb Sutherland, and Cindy Butler, who
volunteered and supported the event in many ways. Also recognized were AMHC
Sexual Assault Services team members Lydia Christie, Nancy Putnam, Monique
Stairs, Jolene MacCallum. Michelle Reinecke, Ann Hull, Cyndi Mullen, Lori
Kilcollins, Tammy Kelly with her daughter Amber, and Pam Wyman were thanked
as AMHC staff for their support of this event.
AMHC Sexual Assault Services is Aroostook County's only rape crisis service
provider offering access to support and advocacy services 24/7/365 by
calling the support line at 1-800-550-3304. Sexual Assault Services
Specialists are located in Houlton, Presque Isle, Caribou, Fort Kent and
Madawaska.
