Maine Legion Family holding 3rd Legion Luge fundraiser

A year after warm weather forced Legion Family in Maine to cancel the races in the annual Legion Luge, organizers are hoping it’s cold enough to run the sleds on Feb. 11 at the Camden Snow Bowl.

Hosted by the Detachment of Maine, the event will raise money for Department Commander Kirk Thurston’s project, Operation ReBoot Outdoors, which offers free hunting and fishing trips to veterans.

“Last year due to warmer weather, Hosmer Pond was not safe at the Snow Bowl and prevented us from the races,” said former Detachment Commander Ron Marr, who came up with the idea with his wife, Deb, in the fall of 2019 while trying to come up with a fun idea to raise money for the Department of Maine Foundation.

The first Legion Luge in February 2020 drew about 60 Legion Family members to the event at the Camden Snow Bowl, the week after the venue hosted the 2020 U.S. National Toboggan Championships.

Although it was too warm to race in 2021, Legion Family still met — at Rockland’s Post 1 — and awards were presented for best costume, most post attendance and most team spirit.

“Donations kept coming in even though we could not race,” Marr said. “Without even racing, we made almost the same amount of money, $1,500.

“My feelings are that this event brought the whole Department of Maine Legion Family together,” Marr added.

This year’s Legion Luge begins on Feb. 10 with a spaghetti dinner from 5-7 p.m. at Post 1; cost is $10 per person. Registration at Camden Snow Bowl begins at 8 a.m. Feb. 11, with races from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $25 per person and toboggans are provided by the Snow Bowl.

“Teams can have two, three or four riders (and) costumes are encouraged,” Marr said.