At the Momentum 2018 CARSTAR Conference in Calgary, AB, CARSTAR stores from across the U.S. and Canada held its annual charity walk in support of cystic fibrosis research, care and advocacy.
Named “Walk the Line,” more than 300 participants donned CARSTAR colors as they took to the streets of Calgary and shared the message about supporting the cystic fibrosis (CF) cause. The event concluded at Olympic Plaza, home of the 1988 Winter Olympic medal ceremony, with awards for the top cystic fibrosis fundraisers in the CARSTAR network, presented by Cystic Fibrosis Canada and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Top CARSTAR fundraisers included:
CARSTAR St. Louis Business Group
CARSTAR Arizona Business Group
CARSTAR Colorado Business Group
CARSTAR Ken’s North and CARSTAR Ken’s South
CARSTAR Maryville
CARSTAR Red Deer
CARSTAR Brampton
CARSTAR Mississauga 401
CARSTAR Toronto St. Clair
CARSTAR High River
CARSTAR Edmonton Gateway
CARSTAR Brantford
CARSTAR Victoria Pre Tech Collision Ltd
CARSTAR Kitchener King Street
CARSTAR Cambridge
These CARSTAR franchise partners, along with additional CARSTAR locations across North America, recently celebrated CARSTAR’s annual Shine Month with the Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis in Canada, the Great Strides Walk in the U.S., car washes, BBQs, golf tournaments, wing nights, auctions and more – all to support the cause of finding a cure for cystic fibrosis. Through these events, they raised thousands of dollars to help those living with cystic fibrosis.
CARSTAR continues its efforts to find a cure for cystic fibrosis, funding Cystic Fibrosis Canada on their #RoadToResearch, providing flight and accommodations to CFIT study participants. The Cystic Fibrosis Individualized Therapy (CFIT) program is a one of a kind study being conducted at Toronto SickKids Hospital, requiring people from across Canada living with particular strains of CF to participate. The CFIT program’s objective is to develop effective, personalized treatments for every person living with cystic fibrosis. For the full story on this incredible program, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhW8F0qrcz4.
The CARSTAR and cystic fibrosis affiliation all started when Victoria, granddaughter of Harry Belmont, previous CARSTAR Mississauga Hawkestone owner, received a cystic fibrosis diagnosis in 1997. At that time, the life expectancy of someone living with cystic fibrosis was 30.
Over the course of the more than 20-year partnership, Canadian franchise partners, vendors and community supporters helped CARSTAR raise over $3 million for Cystic Fibrosis Canada. These funds make a tremendous impact, proof being that the life expectancy of someone living with cystic fibrosis is now 53.3 in Canada and 47 in the U.S.
For more information on Shine Month, visit CARSTAR.com or CARSTAR.ca.
