The Barrie Thunder Classics Car Club launched its "Classics in the Park Car Show 2016" Wednesday at the Gilda's Club Simcoe Muskoka Clubhouse.
The car club has chosen Gilda's Club as its 2016 charity and a photo-op was held to kick-off opening night of the cruise season.
"Cancer touches us all in some way, some form, whether its friends, family - it's touched everyone," said Brandon Valley, president of Thunder Classics Car Club. "It's a horrible disease and we're hoping that this kind of money here gives comfort to the people that are afflicted with it."
Several shiny, classic cars were on display at the Clubhouse on Quarry Ridge Road along with a couple of Harley-Davidson bikes as dignitaries including Mayor Jeff Lehman, Ward 2 Councillor Rose Romita, Kate Insley and Kayla Evans from Barrie Harley-Davidson and Valley posed for the kick-off.
Insley, owner of Barrie Harley-Davidson and cancer survivor, came out to support the cause.
"Twenty-five years ago I did my treatments at the Princess Margaret Lodge because something like this Clubhouse didn't exist. I had young children at home and spent five weeks in downtown Toronto," said Insley.
The lovingly restored classic cars will be on display at Heritage Park and Memorial Square after 5 pm tonight and every Wednesday evening for the rest of the summer where club members will show off their rides and others can admire them.
"It takes $800,000 a year to run the Clubhouse so we're really appreciative of the car club collaborating with us and making a difference in people's lives, so no one faces cancer alone," said Anne Naumyk, Community Development Coordinator at Gilda's Club.
