The first East Kent Hot Rods for Hospice Fall Festival was a success, raising more than $30,000 for Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation.
The one-day event, held Sept. 23 at the Ridgetown Fairgrounds, is estimated to have welcomed more than 2,000 people from across Chatham-Kent and as far away as Alberta.
Throughout the day, attendees enjoyed a car, motorcycle and tractor show with more than 360 vehicles registered. Vehicles at the show spanned nearly 100 years of automotive history, with the oldest car being a 1926 Hudson Brougham and the newest car being a 2023 Mustang.
The day also featured a number of interactive children’s activities, live music from Barker and Wicks and Black River Remedy, an engine blow competition, a demonstration by CK Fire’s Station 11, as well as the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Ridgetown District Agricultural Society’s new pavilion located at the fairgrounds.
“We’re overwhelmed by the support of the community,” Emily Vollans, head of the planning committee and a member of Ridge Runners East Kent, said in a media release. “We’ve been planning for months and people really showed up to support not only the event, but hospice as well. Everyone on the planning committee knows how fortunate we are to have hospice in our community and the turnout today shows that everyone in Chatham-Kent feels the same way.”
The effort by the hot rodders is appreciated at the hospice.
“The funds raised through Hot Rods for Hospice will go directly to supporting families in our community who reach out to the Hospice for care,” Jodi Maroney, executive director of the hospice foundation, said.
