“BINGO! BINGO! I have bingo”, echoed in the front showroom of Ed Corley Ford dealership in Grants this past October 3rd as we celebrated our “Third Annual Pink Ribbon Rally for a Cause” breast cancer awareness and fundraiser that would benefit the local Cibola General Hospital Mammo program.
It started 3 years ago as my wife Evelyn and I were at our local Ed Corley Ford dealership discussing our annual Vintage Bronco Round-up that we have done in past years. Thinking 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. We are on track and now the work starts. We will borrow tables and chairs, gather bingo and silent auction prizes from local artists & businesses, get bingo volunteers, and create an event name and, a flyer and set 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, 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 6 months later. Nicole and her dad now have the truck to finish for Nicole.
Stacie Corley started this year’s event by welcoming all and recognizing our volunteers, then briefly talked about breast cancer and its effect on both the victim and their family. He then thanked everyone for supporting for this event. Teri Jaramillo, Grants Corley Ford events coordinator had the showroom well decorated: banners, ribbons and pink… pink… pink. Great job!
Raffle items this year included a BBQ grill from Diamond G, as well as another beautiful handcrafted pink quilt from Helen Cook, and kids pedal car courtesy of Chris Winch State Farm. Awesome!
Cibola General Hospital had a booth attended by Cynthia Tena her associates.
Silent auction and bingo items included hand crafted pink ribbon angel paintings from our grand-daughter’s Mia and Lila, as well as from Charlene’s daughter Nicole, hand carved crosses, knitted turtles, a 1951 ford truck painting, a polished heart shaped rock, a floral painting, a color TV, and baskets of pink goodies. Candy Rodgers was on hand to help with the raffle ticket sales.
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. Teri Jaramillo drew the winning raffle tickets for the grill, pedal car, and 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.
Jeff and Liz Laurent brought their poker chip 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. So many local businesses made baskets, 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.
Southwest Home Care was on hand this year overseeing a show and shine car show where one could win a raffle prize of car polish goodies. They also made a generous donation along with the car show proceeds to the Cibola General Hospital Mammogram program. It was great!
And… food was available for purchase at the on hand “Chubbies” inside the showroom! Yummy!
All applauded and the event was ending with talk of next year’s Fourth Annual Pink Ribbon Rally for a Cause.
This year’s event total proceeds given Cibola General Hospital for the Mammogram program is $4195.00 which included the $2900.00 we raised, and presented to Cynthia and CGH staff on October 8th, bringing our 3 year total to $6905.00!
BINGO! WE HAVE A WINNER!