With two weeks to go until Maine Winterfest & Derby 2007 kicks off, event organizer Tom Noonan said his schedule isn’t as smooth and clear like the frozen surface of the lake his efforts center on.

In a word, he’s swamped.

“But it’s not just me,” said Noonan. “There’s a lot of people who are busy. I’m just the busiest.”

Noonan said he spends at least eight hours a day preparing for the gigantic charity event. On top of that, he is still working full time as a real estate agent, husband and father of two.

“It’s like planning a party for 15,000 to 20,000 people. That’s all,” said Noonan, while slumped in his office chair.

This year’s derby runs from Feb. 23 to 25. Besides making sure the numerous events and contests are ready to start and lining up the many vendors, Noonan has secured at least two hot air balloons and several helicopters.

A member of the Sebago Lake Rotary Club, a charity organization comprised of business people, Noonan also said he has secured a mustang (the four-legged kind) and a burro.

The two hoofed animals will be brought by the Bureau of Land Management. Noonan said both animals were rescued animals.

Noonan has also worked with the towns of Raymond, Sebago, Casco, Standish and Windham and the game warden service to make sure there are plenty of life-saving professionals in case of an accident. This includes cold water extraction teams, divers, ambulances and an airboat, a vehicle that can travel on ice and open water similar to a hovercraft.

A parking shuttle will be provided to discourage people from driving on the ice. While there will be several motor vehicle races, Noonan said that derby goers should not drive their cars on the frozen lake.

Noonan said the written rules require the ice to be at least 13 inches thick to hold the races, and the race area is closely monitored by ice experts.

Due to the large size of Sebago Lake, ice thickness can vary drastically in different sections.

The derby, which is the work of the Sebago Lake Rotary Club, raises money for Camp Sunshine, a charity for the families of terminally-ill children.