A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
Above are event coordinators from Swamp's Performance Auto: Victoria Day, Aiden Phillips, Jonah Burnett, Tammy Burnett, Gary Burnett, Taylor Swamp, Trevor David, Connor MacDonald, Owen White, Tyren Boots, Chris Herne, Cheryl Swamp, Marissa Vickers and Casey Swamp. In the gray tanktop is Hunter Cooke, who this year's event benefits.
Pearl and Cecelia Conners race against Devin Burns in the kids' Power Wheels event. Hunter Cooke waves the checkered flag.
Kids take time out of the heat in a trailer converted into an air-conditioned video game room.
A 1969 Plymouth, a 2000 Dodge Viper and a 1974 Volkswagen Beetle.
A 1951 El Camino and a 1952 Chevrolet station wagon
A 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air.
A 1964 Chevrolet with a high performance Edelbrock big block engine.
Motorcycle riders display a variety of bikes.
An Akwesasne teen dealing with cystic fibrosis and his family got a boost from the local community on July 23 as Swamp's Performance Auto hosted their Cruisin' for Kids event, which drew several dozen classic cars and motorcycles.
There were a total of nine winners in three categories for vehicle entries.
In the Car Class, first place went to Gerald Surge of Massena for his 1931 Ford coupe. Second place was Tommy Mersinger of Malone for his 1969 Plymouth Barricuda. Third place was Terry Clark from the Twin Leaf Cruisers Car Club for his 1966 Pontiac GTO.
In the Truck Class, the winner was Floyd Sherman of Potsdam for his 1959 El Camino. Second place was Gary Stiles of Massena with a 1967 International pickup. Third place was Joey Thompson of Akwesasne for his 1979 Ford Ranchero GT.
In the Bike Class, the winner was Bob Curleyhead of Akwesasne for his 2007 Bigdog Pitbull. Curleyhead also claimed second place with his 2007 Yamaha Warrior. Third place went to Lee Robert of West Bangor, who entered a 2013 replica of a World War II bike.
The event, which was also dubbed "Hunter's Hope," raised money for Hunter Cooke, 14, who has dealt with the chronic genetic disease his entire life and continues to face health problems.
"Thank you for helping me raise money for me and my family ... it feels good," Cooke said.
His mother, Marla Jacobs, said she was grateful for the community's help and to see her son have a day of fun.
"Hunter has had a long life of being in the hospital all the time," Jacobs said. "It was hard for him to socialize. He loves coming here ... he loves cars and it's awesome he gets to be a part of that."
She said he received a double-lung transplant at age 7 but still faces health challenges.
"He was only on the (transplant) list for four months, but it was a long process getting on it with visits, tests," Jacobs said.
Cruisin' for Kids benefits a different charitable cause each year. Jacobs, who is the cousin of Swamp's Auto owner Casey Swamp, said she heard they were taking applications from locals in need, so they sent one in and were chosen.
She said the proceeds will help them with expenses Medicaid doesn't cover, including travel costs to and from appointments.
In addition to serving as a fundraiser, the show included a "Meatball Madness" cookoff, around a dozen vendors, a kids Power Wheel race, a bounce house and a trailer converted into an air conditioned video game cooloff zone for kids.
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