Day Kimball Healthcare’s (DKH) 15th Annual Cruisin’ for Cancer Care event was held on June 24 at the Thompson Speedway and raised $5,800 to benefit the Northeast Connecticut Cancer Fund of DKH. The event has contributed nearly $117,000 to for the Northeast Connecticut Cancer Fund of DKH, which provides financial assistance for cancer-related screening and treatment services to individuals living in Northeast Connecticut who otherwise may not have the financial resources to pay for needed medical care.

Nearly 60 motorcyclists and classic car enthusiasts turned out for the scenic ride that covered over 40 miles throughout Northeast Connecticut. This year’s event was all new, with a new start and end location at the Thompson Speedway, and featured a few new activities including several memorial laps around the Speedway’s 1.7 mile road course at the conclusion of the cruise, as well as a swap meet, raffles, and a motorcycle rodeo. Participants also enjoyed the Vintage Motorcycle Classic, which also took place at the Speedway that day.

Joshua Vanada, General Manager at Thompson Speedway said, “All of us at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park were delighted to partner with Day Kimball Hospital to help raise funds for cancer prevention, research, and treatment. Many of us have been impacted by this horrible disease, and are glad to help in finding ways to eradicate cancer. We look forward to working together again.”

DKH Director of Development Kristen Willis echoed Vanada’s sentiments and said, “We’re thrilled to have found the perfect partner in Josh Vanada and Thompson Speedway for this special 15th anniversary year of the event, and couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity. As soon as we mentioned Day Kimball Healthcare and our efforts to support cancer care, Josh was on board and offered a host of ideas about how we could incorporate our event into the Motorsports Festival and utilize the track to enhance our fundraising activities after our traditional motorcycle and car cruise in the morning.”

Willis continued, “Having the opportunity for participants to experience several laps with their bikes and cars on the track’s road course was amazing and our motorcycle rodeo turned out to be quite a crowd pleaser, drawing spectators and participants from the Motorsports Festival.”

Major sponsors for the event included: Wheelabrator-Putnam, Putnam Bank, Thompson Speedway, and EDS Mechanical. To learn more about the Northeast Connecticut Cancer Fund of DKH, visit daykimball.org/nectcancerfund.

 

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Top: Classic car enthusiasts take their memorial laps around the Thompson Speedway’s 1.7 mile road course at the conclusion of the cruise portion of DKH’s 15th Annual Cruisin’ for Cancer Care event, held on June 24 at the Thompson Speedway.

Center: Motorcycle enthusiasts take their memorial laps around the Thompson Speedway’s 1.7 mile road course at the conclusion of the cruise portion of DKH’s 15th Annual Cruisin’ for Cancer Care event, held on June 24 at the Thompson Speedway.

Bottom: Members of DKH’s Cruisin’ for Cancer Care committee at the 15th Annual Cruisin’ for Cancer Care event to benefit the Northeast Connecticut Cancer Fund of DKH, held on June 24 at the Thompson Speedway.