With over 700 rides registered for the third Show You Ride event, annual memorial ride for Cochranite Brandon Thomas, organizers are hoping the Sunday event spreads the message, Don’t Drink and Drive.
Brandon Thomas was 17-years-old when he was killed by a drunk driver in 2012.
“Ultimately what we want to come from this event… we just want to send the message, please don’t drink and drive, please don’t put another family through this, this is preventable,” said Kim Thomas, Brandon’s mother.
Kim said the last thing she said to her son was, “I love you Brandon, drive safe,” and he responded “I love you too mom, I always drive safe.”
Brandon was described as a teen who loved everything to do with driving and motor vehicles – “an amazing young man with plenty of potential and a bright future.”
Organizers are anticipating between 1,000 and 1,200 rides to be registered by the end of Sunday, welcoming all vehicles new and old.
Last year $16,489 was raised through the Show Your Ride event and went toward an endowment at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in the mechanics programs in Brandon’s name.
This year the proceeds will go towards SAIT, a scholarship at Cochrane High School, mitochondia disease research, and the birth of the Show Your Ride for Brandon Victims Fund, a fund set up by the Thomas family for families affected by drunk driver to help with funeral and counseling costs.
“If people didn’t come out and support this cause then we wouldn’t be able to continue on with this event. We are so grateful,” Kim said.
Registration for the ride starts at 7 a.m. at the University of Calgary in Lot 10 on Aug. 28.
For more information go to the official Facebook page at “Show Your Ride for Brandon 2016” or the website at showyourrideforbrandon.com.
