GRANTS, N.M. “BINGO! BINGO! I have bingo”, echoed in the front showroom of Ed Corley Ford dealership in Grants this past October 11 as we celebrated our Second Annual Pink Ribbon Rally for a Cause, breast cancer awareness and fundraiser that would benefit the local Cibola General Hospital Mammo program.
It started last year as my wife Evelyn and I were at our local Ed Corley Ford dealership discussing our up-coming Vintage Bronco Round-up that we have done in past years. We were thinking about old Ford cars and trucks as well, and I thought maybe we could do a Fordonly vehicle roundup here at the dealership.
Thinking of old Ford trucks brought to mind a friend named Charlene. I knew her when she was a little girl at her Dad’s (Bill Hatten) engine machine shop years ago. Charlene died a few years ago, a breast cancer victim. I remembered her love for old cars and trucks. She worked at an auto parts store here in town for years. We thought of a breast cancer awareness event that we might do here at the dealership and then approached owner Stacey Corley for his thoughts. He loved the idea and then told us of a sister-in-law of his that also was a breast cancer victim. We will remember everyone.
We then went to the Cibola General Hospital and discussed our idea with the CEO and see if they have a fund we can raise money for. They do have their mammogram program we can support. BINGO! We are on track and now the work starts. We will borrow tables and chairs, gather bingo prizes from local businesses, get bingo volunteers, and create an event name and, a flyer and oh yea, social media, and pick a date.
I started with an idea of a raffle item of a painting of an old Ford truck. I remember talking to Charlene few years ago at her job, we talked of her cancer and how it’s going. “So far, so good” she told me, and “some days are better than others”. I thought of her love of old cars and asked her why she doesn’t have one. She replied” I don’t have any extra money and besides if I could, I would want my Dad’s ‘51 Ford truck that my brother Dwayne has.” I thought it would be a great idea for our town to support her and perhaps help her focus. I asked Dwayne for the truck and he gave it to me to restore for Charlene. He also donated and engine and transmission. I took the truck to mine and Evelyn’s shop to start the restoration. Glass would be donated by Discount Mobile glass, the upholstery would be done by a friend; just bring the material. Local body shops would help with advice or use of paint booths and small items also. Victory Lane would help with the tire cost. Small parts were donated by friends of mine and hers. We are going to pull together as a community for her. The only thing I needed now was the color she wanted for the truck.
I went to see Charlene a couple weeks before Christmas in 2020 and talked of her progress. Same story, “Good days… bad days.” I told her of the truck’s progress and she smiled. The only thing I need to know I asked her was what color she wanted the truck to be. She told me “Blue, maybe sky blue, maybe a little lighter maybe darker, but blue.” I went to the NAPA paint store in Alb. On 2nd street where a friend worked and asked for blue color paint sample chips. I took them to Charlene about a week later and spread them on her desk and told her “Ok girl, pick a color.” She looked them over slowly and looked up to me and said. “RED! …my daughter Nicole and I were watching the Christmas Story on TV and saw an old red Ford truck with a Christmas tree in back of it. Nicole pointed at it and said, “Mom, there’s our truck.” Charlene said, “I want a red Truck!”
Charlene passed away six months later. Nicole’s dad now has the truck to finish for Nicole.
Raffle items this year included a Blackstone griddle we donated, as well as another beautiful handcrafted pink quilt from Helen Cook, and a great 100th anniversary pedal car courtesy of Chris Winch State Farm. Awesome!
A second beautiful handmade quilt from Helen Cook, Kachina dolls from Ruth Hambright, a drone from Pat Clingman, a scroll saw crafted train picture and handmade cross from Carlos Marez, and a great acrylic painting of a ’51 red Ford pickup from Chris Lange filled our silent auction table. Jeff and Liz Laurent brought their coin toss game and at a quarter a toss glassware, cups, candle holders and such could be won, along with raffle opportunities for his handcrafted metal ornaments. 20 some local businesses and crafted items donated from friends and from people at the weekly Farmers Market graced the bingo prize table. Some people donated money to support the cause, thank you to all.
Cibola General Hospital had a booth attended by Cynthia Tena and Nydia Sanchez where one could make a donation for a pink ribbon that you could put a name on in memory of. They also had a spin the wheel for a small prize game. There were hand crafted pink ribbon angel paintings from our granddaughter’s Mia and Lila, as well as from Charlene’s daughter Nicole.
Teri Jaramillo, Grants Corley Ford events coordinator had the showroom “pinked out”: banners, ribbons and pink…pink… pink. Great job! We started the event by welcoming all and recognizing our volunteers and prize donors. I then turned the microphone over to dealership owner Stacey Corley, who with his sisters Florence and Faye on hand, briefly talked about breast cancer and its effect on both the victim and their family. He then asked for a moment of silence where all could reflect. He then thanked everyone for supporting for this event.
We had two local old Fords (this was an old Fordonly event) in attendance: an old Ford station wagon as well as a 1972 Bronco. The Southwest Model A club from Albuquerque again came to support us and they brought three 1920’s and1930’s Model A Ford cars to display.
Great food was available for purchase at the on hand “Chubbies” food truck! Yummy!
Margie Roberts, Michelle Thomas and daughter Jenny led the bingo, calling for about three hours, and as the last bingo was done we turned our focus to the main three raffle items. Charlene and Ralph’s daughter Nicole drew the winning tickets for both the griddle and pedal car, then Terri drew the ticket for the quilt. At last the silent auction items were distributed to bid winners. Stacey again thanked everyone for their support of this cause and the event. We would also like to thank our family and friends for their support.
All applauded and the event was ending with talk of next year’s Third Annual Pink Ribbon Rally for a Cause.
This year’s event total proceeds given to Cibola General Hospital for the Mammogram program was $2,650.00 and presented to Marie and CGH staff on October 15.
BINGO! WE HAVE A WINNER!