Kim Thomas understands all too well that nothing will fill the void left from losing her son, Brandon, to the acts of a drunk driver nearly five years ago, but some solace may be gained through charitable endeavours in his name.
Kim Thomas understands all too well that nothing will fill the void left from losing her son, Brandon, to the acts of a drunk driver nearly five years ago, but some solace may be gained through charitable endeavours in his name.
“I can never bring Brandon back but I think through this event his memory lives, ” said Kim through tears of gratitude and sorrow.
While this Aug. 27 marks the fourth annual Show Your Ride For Brandon Thomas show and shine, the volunteers behind the annual fundraiser welcomed the recent news that the Ramada Cochrane was willing to step up and host a pre-event July 16 from noon-3 p.m.
Sebastien Leskow, general manager of the local hotel, is welcoming car enthusiasts and spectators to pull into the Ramada parking lot to show off their shiny rides and take part in festivities.
Hot dogs will be grilling, with pop to wash it down - all available by donation and provided by Ramada Cochrane, which contributed up $750 to host the event and donated another $1,000 directly to the fund.
“If it turns out to be a great success we will look at doing it again next year, ” said Leskow.
The inspiration for Leskow to fill the Ramada parking lot with classic cars stems, in part, from a Ramada team member who was close to Brandon and to his sister, Kayla.
Leskow also feels strongly about spreading the message on a local level to end drunk driving. He lost a 19-year-old cousin who was left to die in a ditch several years ago after being struck by a drunk driver while riding his dirt bike.
Spreading the word is what has kept Kim going since Dec. 6, 2012 - when Cochranites banded together to mourn the sudden loss of 17-year-old Brandon, who was struck by a drunk driver who wound up serving less than six months in jail.
The sentence caused an uproar in the community and was viewed as a “slap in the face ” by the Thomas family. The anger was further fuelled by an unsuccessful appeal of what was perceived as a sentence too light in the first place.
In the months and years since the loss of her son, Kim and Kayla have successfully rallied an army of volunteers to help put on the annual event.
This year, proceeds will go toward the mechanics scholarship in Brandon's name at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology; the Cochrane High School scholarship for a mechanics student; Mothers Against Drunk Driving; and the Show Your Ride for Brandon Victims Fund - which is being built to provide support for families who have experienced loss at the hands of drunk drivers.
Kim said the list of local sponsors is in excess of 100 and that she is “overwhelmed with the outpouring of support ”.
The Aug. 27 annual event will be held at Lot 10 at the University of Calgary campus and will
feature a pin-up girl contest and kids parade - with highly sought-after prizes for the best flair and McDonald's Happy Meal gift certificates for all participants. Last year saw a turnout of over 500 rides and raised more than $13,000 in spite of bad weather.
Look up Show Your Ride for Brandon 2017 on Facebook to learn more.
