More than 100 cars filled the Aldergrove legion parking lot at the annual Old Farts Car Club's anti-cancer car show on Sunday, July 14.
This year's proceeds are being donated to Leilah, seven, from 91原创 City who has been battling cancer for almost half her life.
In June 2021, a concerning change in Leilah's left eye prompted an eye exam which led to an MRI at Surrey Pediatric Hospital that raised concerns of a tumour. She was admitted to BC Children's Hospital and endured a week of pokes, scans, and eventually a biopsy surgery.
Six weeks later, tests confirmed the then three-year-old had a rare cancerous tumour behind her left eye.
Within a week of her fourth birthday, she underwent an eight-hour surgery to remove the tumour, which had grown so much it pressed on her optic nerve, infiltrated her nasal cavity, and breached her brain barrier.
It was removed, but a year later, during a routine MRI, the cancer had returned.
Her battle is unique in that her case is exceptionally rare with no documented instances of this cancer type at Children's, said mom Amanda, who requested the family's last name not be used for privacy.
It was their first time at the OFCC car show, and Amanda said "it's been incredible to have support."
"We are so grateful. None of our family are here, so it's incredible that people are willing and wanting to give and is so supportive, I don't really have the words to properly articulate the feeling," she shared.
Melanie Skocylas, mom of an Aldergrove family who was a former recipient of the car show, has been attending the annual event ever since.
"People we didn't even know banded together to help a family, and we can't thank them enough. It's appreciated [during] such an uncertain time 鈥� it kept us above," she said.
"We want to do as much as we can to help support as well, try to give back... they're like a second family."
The car show featured a raffle, sale of "cancer sucks" t-shirts, a vendor alley inside the legion, a military display, and a car crushing event with the tank.
The Old Farts Car Club is hosting their annual anti-cancer car show today until 3pm at the legion branch.
鈥� Kyler Emerson (@AeKyler)
Marty Chapman, an organizer of the show, said the weather was hot but the show had a great turnout.
"We sold out," he said.
Chapman said he's grateful to all who came to for a good cause.
Among the 100 car owners was Gerald Prodeahl from Abbotsford who decided just the night before to attend the car show.
He brought his 1965 Ford Falcon to the show, which his grandson named "Dirty Bird" because it was always dirty in his garage while Prodeahl worked on it.
Prodeahl's owned the vehicle for about 10 years, he estimates, but his brother owned it before him.
"Every car show I go to it's appealed to many people, and I never expected that. I built it based on 'street freaks' from the 1970s," he shared.
The donation will be given to Leilah and her family on Saturday, July 20, at the legion at 3:30 p.m. and Marty said those interested are welcome to attend.
