Cruizin‘ for a Cause keeps growing

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Emily McDaniel will never, ever forget her first experience at a car cruise.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” McDaniel, who lives in Providence, was saying last Thursday evening amid the music and merriment of the Johnston Street Machines Cruizin’ for a Cause. “This is absolutely overwhelming.”

McDaniel, a development associate at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, wasn’t the only person in the crowd of 250-plus car and music lovers impressed with the spirit and support that have become the trademarks since Cruizin’ for a Cause began on May 9.

Perhaps even more “incredible”, as McDaniel told Street Machines vice president George Arakelian, “has been tonight’s generosity.”

By night’s end, that generosity hiked the four-week total that the Street Machines will soon present to Hasbro Children’s Hospital to nearly $1,800.

Each month from May until September, the Street Machines will select a charity as the recipient of proceeds from the Cruizin’ for a Cause gatherings, which are held weekly on Thursday evenings.

“Tonight we had the biggest 50/50 pot ever,” said Arakelian. “The winner is going home with $280.”

McDaniel, who until last Thursday night knew nothing about the Street Machines and its charitable efforts, seemed almost at a loss for words when asked to address the night’s cheering attendees.

“On behalf of Hasbro Children’s Hospital, thank you for this super and special donation,” McDaniel told car cruise lovers. “The music is wonderful, these cars are absolutely beautiful, but you people have poured out your hearts for the children who are battling cancer, and for that we cannot thank you enough.”

Cruizin’ for a Cause, which is also the work of president Gary Maddocks, treasurer Gina Sabitoni-Arakelian and sergeant-at-arms Anthony Ferranti, also had a co-star last Thursday evening.

Ben McDermott, an eight-year-old Warwick youngster who is battling Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2, was invited to serve as the night’s honorary judge, reviewing the many motorcycles and antique cars that filled a large section of the Denny’s Restaurant parking lot inside The Johnston Centre on Route 6.

McDermott – who is in need of a ramp van that would make it easier for his parents, Shaun and Karyn McDermott, to transport to and from doctor’s appoints and treatments – selected winners for some 17 trophies and even pulled the winning 50/50 raffle ticket, as well as a special drawing for five other prizes.

“This was our best night to date,” said Richard George, a.k.a. DJ Car Guy, who plays all types of music during the cruise. “We’re getting bigger and bigger each week, and that means more money for the designated charity.”

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