The COVID-19 pandemic may have slammed the brakes on this year’s Windsor Waterfront Corvette Show, but organizers were able to shift gears and managed to collect $5,500 to support Paediatric Oncology at Windsor Regional Hospital. The funds will help purchase Aloe Chairs which can be converted into beds to allow parents to be near their children while in hospital. Equally as important, the Corvette Club of Windsor has arranged to do a drive-by parade on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at 11am. At least 20 Corvette Club members did laps around the Met Campus to thank frontline staff for their efforts in treating and caring for Windsor and Essex County residents
over the past 18 months.
“When the pandemic began, these drive-by events were a regular occurrence here,” says Director of Philanthropy Gisele Seguin. “Even if staff don’t have time to come outside to view
the parade of corvettes, those who do see it tend to talk about it in their units and that in itself, is a morale boost.” Corvette Club Treasurer Gary McGuinness says club members love to take every opportunity to drive their vehicles and they love sharing that joy with frontline healthcare workers. Despite the show’s cancellation, the donation was possible through the event’s sponsors and club members who wanted to help. “They approached us to donate,” said McGuinness. “Even though some of them are struggling with the economic downturn, they still wanted to give.” During the last Corvette Club show in 2019 along the waterfront, as many as 200 vehicles were on display but with 40 percent of the people attending the show coming from the U.S and with border restrictions in place and COVID constraints at that time, organizers felt it was best to cancel it in 2021.
“It’s a shame we had to cancel it, but hopefully we can do it again next year and raise more money,” said McGuinness. Since 2006, the Corvette Club has raised $70,000 for several organizations including the Alzheimer Society, the John McGivney Children’s Centre, ALS Society and Children’s Wish Foundation. Of that amount, $59,900 was donated to paediatric oncology.
