What's in Store: Langley shop helps drive to world record carwash to grant children's wishes

After 35 years in the automotive repair business, Dave Foreman is no stranger to rolling up his sleeves and getting the job done.

He’s grown his family business from the days when he rented a corner of a bay in the old OK Tire location – offering tune ups with little more than a jack, four jack stands, and a toolbox – to the Foreman‘s Integra Tire Auto Centre which his family operates today out of a multi-bay facility on 198th Street in the City’s industrial area. 

This weekend, Dave –  accompanied by his wife Cheryl, their son Peter – as well as a few other part-time staff plus friends are rolling up their sleeves again, this time in a quest to break a world record.

One of the auto shop’s suppliers, Krown Rust Control, is coordinating a nation-wide car wash this Saturday with all money being donated to the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada.

They underlying goal is to offer the most car washes by an organization in one day and break a record.

“We’ve always been interested in helping the community,” said Dave, who noted they’ve sponsored lots of organizations and teams in Langley through the years. But this is the first time in a long time they’ve actually physically taken part in a fundraising event of this magnitude.

When approached by their Krown rep about participating in a fundraiser to help make wishes come true for children with life-threating illnesses, it was a no-brainer, Peter said.

Planning to wash cars from 9 a.m. through to 2 p.m., he’s hoping the local team can wash upwards of 100 cars.

With shops across the country taking part, Krown hopes to see 10,000 cars washed and with a minimum donation of $10 per car wash, the goal is to raise $100,000 for the charity.

“It would be fabulous if it’s a very popular event,” said Cheryl.

Peter added, “We’re just kind of flying by the seat of our pants here. We’ve never done this kind of thing before. But it will be fun.”

Downtown bustling

Speaking of events this weekend, I want to tell you about a new event in downtown Langley that offers some cool activities, as well as $1,000 in downtown dollars to one person.

It’s called the Open Air Sale, and organizers – namely a big group of downtown merchants – want to make this an annual July event.

The public is invited to take part in a number of activities Saturday, July 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day features a scavenger hunt, as well as a $1,000 downtown shopping spree draw, and live music. 

Other features for the day will include facepainting, balloon twisting, caricture drawing, and a photo booth.

“The downtown Langley Open Air Sale is another example of a fun event that will attract the bargain hunter in everyone,” she said.

“The best thing about this event is that it’s all about the businesses interacting with the public in that one-on-one way that only small businesses can offer. The scavenger hunt is a fun way to engage families and the kids will love the prizes we have in store for them! All receipts will be entered in several draws for our downtown dollars, which are as good as cash and redeemable in more than 60 downtown businesses.”

For more on this, visit www.downtownlangley.com.