The Barker Express Chair Auction, hosted by Sunday River last month, raised $112,767. All proceeds will be donated to three local organizations: Maine Adaptive, The River Fund Maine, and the MSAD 44 Daycare Initiative. From left are Ellen Wainwright, communications manager for Sunday River; Jean Benedict with the River Fund Maine; Lizz Peacock and Anna Bannon with Maine Adaptive; David Murphy with School Administrative District 44 and Community Concepts; and Cecil Bryant, lift mechanic at Sunday River. Submitted photo

NEWRY — The Barker Express Chair Auction, hosted by Sunday River last month, provided participants a unique opportunity to bid on chairs from the historic Barker Express chairlift.

The auction raised $112,767 from the collective generosity of residents and loyal guests from across the country.

All proceeds will be donated to three local organizations: Maine Adaptive, The River Fund Maine, and the School Administrative District 44 Daycare Initiative.

Each organization provides valuable services to the local area, and supporting their missions is essential to fostering a stronger community, according to a news release from Ellen Wainwright with Sunday River Resort.

“We appreciate this donation towards the reestablishment of a childcare center in the Bethel area. It’s a critical need to the families in our school district area, and Sunday River continues to be a fantastic supporter of those efforts,” said David Murphy, representing School Administrative District 44 and Community Concepts.

Sunday River began in the Barker Basin, and the lift has been a companion to the skiing community for decades.

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