A “whopping” $63,000 will be hand delivered to several Langley charities throughout the next few weeks.
Tears can be expected to flow, gratitude expressed, and thankful hugs dished out when directors from the Langley Good Times Cruise-In personally distribute the money, explained car show president Wayne Patterson.
“Handing out these cheques is the only thanks the board members get, and it fills our hearts, and drives us to do the Cruise-In year over years,” said Patterson, who is preparing for his second term as president of the annual charity car show.
“The show we put on is great, almost everyone enjoys the Cruise-In, but the biggest joy we get is giving out the cheques,” he said.
“You would not believe the emotion that comes from the charity groups. To some of them, the money they get from the Cruise-In is one of the largest single donations they get during the year…”
One of those emotional visits comes when the team visit Marilyn Piticco and her team at Langley Community Support Groups – a stroke survivors support group based in Walnut Grove.
“This year more than any, this donation allows us to continue our work without me having the stress of worrying about how we will pay for it,” Piticco said. “I can’t thank the Cruise-In executive enough for their help and for their kindness.”
“With the dollars we receive from Cruise-In we are able to offer much needed support for stroke survivors living at home in our community,” Piticco said.
Her group is one of four Cruise-In charities of choice. The others are Langley Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Valley Therapeutic Riding Association, and Legacy Water Search & Recovery.
This year’s fundraising tally – while not the largest in the car show’s history – is $2,500 more than last year.
In addition to money raised through sponsorships and merchandise sales, plus money donated from In-N-Out Burger sales, participating service clubs also raised a further $20,000 this year – most of that through food concession sales at the September car show and automotive swap meet.
Following a recent wrap-up meeting, Patterson credited the Cruise-In board and subcommittees – including many new committee members who came aboard this year with new ideas and energies – for making the annual show successful, again.
New charity invited in
“All comments were positive,” Patterson said. “I’m glad the 2015 Cruise-In is completed. It is a long road, but I also look forward to 2016 and all the fun we have ramping up to Cruise-In.”
One of the goals that came out of the wrap-up meeting was the quest for a new charity that wants to put on a Friday night cruise.
“The Cruise-In does not have the personnel to complete this, but would be happy to help give guidance on this to a charity that would like to take this on,” Patterson said, offering up his email and cell contacts to any group interested in the Friday concept. Contact Wayne Patterson via email at waynejackiepatterson@shaw.ca or 604-250-5998.