Hampden race will raise funds for women’s recovery center

A new four-mile race in Hampden on Aug. 30 will raise money for Tessa’s House, a residential treatment program for women in Maine. The event honors Tessa Lee McCue, who died from a fentanyl-related overdose in 2022, and supports planned expansion of recovery services.

Why it matters: - The race will fund treatment and recovery services for adult women in Maine. - Proceeds will help sustain Tessa’s House and support planned expansion of services through the foundation’s licensed Waterville office. - The event also brings attention to Maine’s ongoing overdose crisis and the continuing need for treatment access.

What happened: - Hampden will host the inaugural Tessa’s House Run for Women in Recovery on Aug. 30. - The four-mile race starts at 8 a.m. at Hampden Academy, with registration and packet pickup beginning at 6:30 a.m. - Hampden Academy’s cross-country team will join runners from across the community. - Children as young as 2 are expected at the event, and a Kids Fun Run is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. for ages 8 and younger. - Christy Buss, a choreographer and member of the L.A. Lakers’ Buss family, is expected to attend. - Buss coached and mentored Tessa Lee McCue in artistic skating. - McCue Law will cover registration fees for participating cross-country team members. - Registration for the four-mile race and Kids Fun Run remains open until Aug. 30. - Registration is available at race sign-up.

The details: - The race registration fee for the four-mile event is $35. - The Kids Fun Run costs $10. - Adult awards are scheduled for 9:15 a.m. - The race will be held at Hampden Academy, 89 Western Ave., Hampden, Maine 04444. - Tessa’s House opened in Washington, Maine, in June 2025. - The residential program has 16 beds and serves adult women with substance use disorder. - Most residents stay 30 to 45 days. - Tessa’s House has served 118 women to date and currently supports five residents. - Recent program data show a 70 percent graduation rate. - Among graduates, 70 percent chose to extend their treatment stays. - Preliminary Maine figures counted 390 fatal overdoses and 7,313 nonfatal overdoses in 2025. - Fatal overdoses declined nearly 9 percent during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. - The Tessa Lee Libby Foundation, founded in 2023, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on expanding treatment access for women with substance use disorders in Maine. - The foundation created Tessa’s House at 276 RazorVille Road in Washington, Maine. - The center uses trauma-informed, evidence-based, person-centered care guided by national clinical standards. - More information is available at the foundation’s website. - A Facebook page for Tessa’s House is available at social media.

Between the lines: - The race is both a fundraiser and a memorial, tying a local community event to a personal loss that became a treatment mission. - The support from a family member, a coach-mentor and local runners gives the event emotional reach beyond a standard charity race. - The reported graduation and stay-extension rates suggest the residential program is meeting demand in a way that keeps many women engaged in treatment longer. - The overdose data underline why the foundation is framing the event as part of a broader public health need, not just a one-day fundraiser.

What’s next: - Race proceeds will continue supporting current treatment operations at Tessa’s House. - The foundation is preparing additional services through its licensed Waterville office, though those services are not yet operating. - Organizers are using the event to build awareness and resources for future expansion of women’s recovery care in Maine.

The bottom line: - Hampden’s first Tessa’s House race turns a community run into direct support for women’s addiction treatment, while honoring the woman whose death inspired the program.