August Luxury Motorcars has come up with the idea to host the first Okanagan Dream Rally. It will be a day of fast cars, big kid smiles and a small road trip.
The dealership is looking for deserving children to take part in the fundraiser that will happen on Aug. 7.
"Life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, let's show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile. We are only on the earth a short time, help give a thousand smiles to a child that needs it," stated Matt August, Co-found August Family Foundation.
Money raised during the rally will be donated to the Central Okanagan Hospice Association (COHA).
Nica Graziotto, with COHA, said this money will go towards developing a bereavement and learning centre.
COHA has the mandate to create a community where no one has to die or grieve alone. They partner with the hospice house to provide bedside support, grief counselling and work with long-term care facilities and hospital to help those in need of help.
Graziotto said they currently have about 64 luxury cars and they’re looking for 64 lucky children to sit in the passenger seats of these cars. The cars will be driven by volunteers and will drive from Kelowna to Penticton and back.
This just isn't any old fundraiser because the August family has personal ties to the COHA.
Last year, the August family raised about $70,000 for COHA and Graziotto said they have the same target this year.
There is no cost to families and families can sign up for the event online. The event is open to any child.
"We have kids who have lost a parent, battling cancer, autistic, or we have kids that just need a smile on their face for a day,” Graziotto explained.
“It's pretty neat and we're pretty excited. It's the first ever and the hope is to do it every year."
If you get value from KelownaNow and believe local independent media is important to our community we ask that you please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter.
If you appreciate what we do, we ask that you consider supporting our local independent news platform.
