Stingrays raise $2,000 at car wash

June 26th, 2006 | Dan Kershaw | Fundraising, Newsletter, Stingray News

“Ann Marie Burlton presents a cheque for Car Wash proceeds to Riki Yamada from Southlake”

There were no more repetitive Tag Day pleas of: “Would you like to support the Newmarket Stingrays Swim Club?” all around Newmarket this spring. Instead swarms of swimmers and parents washed, rinsed and dried off cars, vans, and pickups for six hours on May 6. It was a true team effort, allowing younger and older swimmers to spend time together for a great cause.

The weather wasn’t supportive in the morning, staying cloudy until clearing up in the afternoon, with a cool breeze. But the clouds cleared and the sun warmed everyone up, although the temperature never exceeded 12 – and the cars kept coming, steadily all day, with three or four or more in the line almost all the time.

That was thanks to teams of four usually young swimmers taking turns standing alongside Davis Drive coming and going past The Tannery waving signs and yelling “car wash!” to all passing vehicles. And they were successful, with drivers willing to support the club and Southlake Hospital, which gains half the receipts – and got a personal car wash, of course, plus a hot dog or hamburger and a pop. There were some extra donations as well.

After being greeted by the smiling faces of Danielle Copeman, Blaire Coley and Dawn Thomson, it was not unusual to see up to a dozen Stingrays and parents swarm a car to dry it off after an equal number of washers had wet each one, soaped and washed it, rinsed it and sent it to the end of the line for a shammy dry wiping all over. Paul Oliver, Bev Buckton, Terry Hendrichs, Jerry Hanus, Peter Gallow, and Deb Sloan were just a few parents who kept the cars running smoothly through the line. Shifts started at 10 and changed at 12 and 2 until 4, but club members came and went throughout the day.

Overheard was one parent saying one of the now supporters had been driving around town looking for a car wash and found one, not the usual type — the special Stingrays one. Of course, Stingrays also had their cars cleaned, too.

There were also shifts of a half dozen under the leadership of Andrew Tamchyna and Morgan Millard (who both stayed for the full six hours to help out) cooking up the hamburgers and hot dogs for drivers, but for club members, young and older it was $2.

Hi-jinks were very limited, all focusing on the job at hand – making customers happy – but everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. Among the many workers was Brandon Kingston who expropriated one of the rinsing hoses most of the day. No two hour shift for him, or his father Steve and other parents.

Fundraising Director Ann Marie Burlton was everywhere throughout, having organized the day with the assistance of Peter Roberts. Peter was energetically directing kids and parents to their assignments, rotating everyone as the day went on. One of the extra tasks was gathering garbage from drivers’ cars; just part of the service.

For some of us older types, two or three hours washing or drying created some sore (maybe unused) muscles and stiff backs as well. Still, the car tires in Newmarket have never been so clean after John Fitzgerald washed them and Ron Shuker dried them!

Ann Marie reported that the day resulted in raising over $2,000, of which half goes to the Stingrays and half to Southlake Regional Health Centre. She wishes to thank The Tannery for providing the parking lot and water for the event. Others deserving of recognition for their extra efforts are: Weston Produce grocery store, and Harvey’s at the 404 Plaza.

Ann Marie says she is planning another car wash day in September to start the new swim season off on the right foot with all the swimmers and parents out to have a fun time again!

“Not ‘til September!”