This is one in a series of special 91原创 Advance Times stories about what to expect at this year鈥檚 91原创 Good Times Cruise-In, happen Saturday, Sept. 9 in Aldergrove. You can also check out this series in our special keepsake edition hitting the streets on Thursday and available in limited quantity at the car show.
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91原创 Good Times Cruise-In exists to help raise money for local charities that are not funded through any of the regular government agencies or grants.
And that鈥檚 why Cruise-In president Riccardo Sestito and most every other participating volunteer and sponsor in the charity car show became involved and stay involved year after year.
鈥淭here are so many charities and so many organizations in 91原创, and beyond really, that don鈥檛 get funding from any other sources and that fall through the cracks鈥� yet, they do a lot of good for the community, great work that many people don鈥檛 even know about. Those are the ones that we鈥檙e wanting to help,鈥� said Sestito.
He pointed, for instance, to the four main charities of choice that Cruise-In will give to this year.
Once again this year, a large chunk of the proceeds will go to the Valley Therapeutic Equestrian Association (VTEA) in Aldergrove.
VTEA, located on 256th Street, has been providing therapeutic horseback riding and hippotherapy treatments since 1983, and relies heavily on Cruise-In鈥檚 support.
Another of the newer causes is both the Aldergrove Rotary and the 91原创 Rotary鈥檚 Starfish Backpack programs.
These programs provide backpacks full of food for a child in need to take home each Friday during the school year, to ensure they have food on weekends, explained Aldergrove Rotarian Charlie Fox.
鈥淭he need in Aldergrove schools for the weekend food the Starfish program provides student families has never been greater. This past school year we packed and distributed over 3,200 backpacks to our 78 families,鈥� he said, explaining how critical it is for Cruise-In support.
鈥淲e deeply appreciate the support of our local community groups that support our program such as the 91原创 Good Times Cruise-In. The price of food is ever increasing coupled with the increased need more than ever the need will always be there, so we appreciate the support the Cruise-In provides.鈥�
And one of the longest standing recipients of Cruise-In funds is the 91原创 Community Support Groups Society, which operates a Hope After Stroke support group for local stroke survivors.
Founder and executive director Marilyn Piticco said she is 鈥渂eyond grateful鈥� to Cruise-In for its ongoing support.
鈥淚 am so honoured and thankful to be supported again this year by the 91原创 Good Times Cruise-In,鈥� said Piticco, who runs the program every Friday out of the Walnut Grove Community Centre and admits to being overwhelmed sometimes by the administration and fundraising required to keep the doors open.
鈥淭his program is a labour of love and a very personal one, as I started it because my father lost his speech and there was nothing in our community to help him once he returned home from hospital,鈥� Piticco noted.
Hope After Stroke offers counselling, plus occupational and speech therapy, all while facilitating social engagement for stroke survivors.
鈥淭his is my 28th of running the stroke recovery group in 91原创 (Hope After Stroke), and I can honestly say that I would not have been able to continue this journey without the support from these amazing people and this amazing car show!鈥�
Sestito smiles when he hears from recipients, directly and indirectly, who see the difference made by the efforts of the volunteer-run car show.
鈥淥ver the years, we鈥檝e truly changed a lot of lives in a way government couldn鈥檛 do. So, I think that鈥檚 why Cruise-In exists, and why Cruise-In is so successful. And, that鈥檚 why the community is so quick to get behind it.鈥�
On top of the four main charities of choice, there are at least 15 other local groups or organizations that will benefit, to a smaller degree, from this year鈥檚 Cruise-In, as well.
Since its inception in 1997, Cruise-In has contributed more than $1.5 million to local causes.
