By WARREN DILLAWAY - Staff Writer
ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — Car enthusiasts wrapped a pink ribbon around the Cruise to the Lake show Sunday evening, helping raise money for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure which helps fight breast cancer.
Proceeds from a raffle and donations will be given to the foundation to help fight breast cancer in Ashtabula County and throughout the country.
Lori Slimmer, a Walk for the Cure committee member and walk organizer with Lori Kingston, said a walk is held in September annually to raise money and the car show proceeds will go toward the totals raised from that event.
Slimmer said 75 percent of the money stays in Ashtabula County and 25 percent is used for national research.
“The fund grants locally for education, screening mammograms and support groups,” Slimmer said. She said there is also a free screening program for women 40 to 64 who don’t have health insurance.
The weekly car show will continue Sunday evenings until the end of October with a Toys for Tots benefit on July 19. A dance will be held July 25 at Walnut Beach also.
Car show enthusiasts are very serious about their hobby.
Larry Staida doesn’t own an older vehicle but goes to shows at least twice a week when the weather warms.
“I’ve never had the urge to own one but I love to look at them,” he said.
More than 200 cars were available for viewing at Lake Shore Park as couples dance to the odies music of the Contels Sunday evening.
Victor Guile, one of the organizers, said he has been working with the car show for 10 years but the event has been around for 22 years. “It’s the oldest in Ashtabula County,” he said.
Car shows are held throughout the summer in Ashtabula, Geneva, Conneaut and many other area communities.
The fourth annual Conneaut Sock Hop will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday in downtown Conneaut with the Kingpins and Mark Carr providing musical interludes.
Old cell phones, ink cartridges and canned goods can be brought to the event to help support the Conneaut Human Resources Center.
