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Auto Show Raises Money for Cancer Patients

Posted at 6:35 PM, Sep 02, 2013
and last updated 2013-09-02 18:35:12-04

MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich. – The 9th annual Cars For Cancer Auto and Bike Show drew in hundreds of participants and thousands of spectators this Labor Day.

The proceeds raised during the event will be donated to the Johnson Family Cancer Center in Muskegon.

“It’s much more than a car show,” said Maureen Weirema, who attended the event. “It’s a whole bunch of people trying to fight something that’s taking our loved ones away from us.”

Back in October, Weirema’s husband was diagnosed with cancer. Just three days later, he lost his battle. Prior to becoming ill, her husband was working to restore a 1971 Comet.  It’s a project he was unable to complete.

“I asked this car club if I donated the car to them if they would fix it up and raffle it off to the Johnson Care Center just like they do with all the proceeds off this car show,” Wierema said.

With parts donated from several local businesses, Robert Arnoldink, owner of Auto Body Xperts Carstar and his team accepted the challenge of bringing the classic back to life.

“It was rough. It was rough when they first brought it in,” Arnoldink said. “My guys looked at me and said, ‘really? We’re really going to do this?’ I said, ‘ Yep, we’re really gonna do it.'”

After countless hours of labor, the task was finally complete. The once brown, rusted out car, was now a blue, shining beauty. Admirers of the Comets new look stepped in line one after another during the show to purchase a raffle ticket. All in the hopes of being able take home Nick Wierema’s final project. At $5 a piece, the car is expected to bring in nearly $20,000 for the cause.

“Hopefully, I, and all of Nick’s friends completing this car will give another family some options to hopefully have their family member still be with them,” Wierema said.”He [Nick] would really love this and he would love that it’s making some money for cancer patients.”