‘It’s absolutely amazing’: Corvette Club of Windsor raises record $40,000 for Paediatric Oncology unit

Corvettes cruised around the Windsor Regional Hospital Met Campus, raising money for the Paediatric Oncology unit. CTV Windsor’s Chris Campbell has more.

Shiny Corvettes circled Windsor Regional Hospital’s Met Campus on Tuesday morning, drawing smiles from patients and staff as part of a tradition that’s grown from a pandemic workaround into a community highlight.

The Corvette Club of Windsor hosted its annual Paediatric Oncology cheque presentation following its annual car show held last June, raising a record $40,000 this year, bringing the total since 2006 to $180,000.

“We’re so appreciative of everything that the Corvette Club has done for us,” said Devon Lanspeary, program manager for family birthing at Windsor Regional Hospital.

“To be able to provide care within Windsor-Essex, instead of a lot of these families having to travel on the 401 and go up to London to receive care, is absolutely amazing for our families.”

Lanspeary said community support helps the hospital provide not just staffing and equipment, but also toys, electronics, and activities that make long days of treatment more manageable.

“It’s better care. It’s safer care. It’s closer to home,” she said.

“It impacts absolutely everyone… the parents, siblings and extended families. Keeping them closer to home just reduces that travel piece and has a huge positive impact.”

For many children, the car parade itself is a highlight.

“It’s every child’s dream to get to see these kinds of amazing cars, and to have them all in one place is incredible,” Lanspeary exclaimed.

Club members said they were thrilled to see the record fundraising total.

“Last year was $34,000, this year $40,000,” said Lynda Reaume, the club’s waterfront show director.

“It’s been wonderful, and we’re so happy to have great supporters. We’ll be back at it again soon.”

Reaume said the idea of circling the hospital with Corvettes began during the pandemic and has since become a tradition.

“It’s very nice to be able to do that, to support the hospital patients as well as the workers,” she said, adding the cause is personal to her, after treating a young boy with a brain tumour during her years as a physiotherapist.

Cristina Naccarato, executive director of the Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation, said the donations help in many ways.

“It helps us purchase vitally needed medical equipment for the staff to utilize on the patients,” she said.

“But it also helps with a lot of softer items as well, like toys for the kids, video games, iPads, so they have a less stressful time. It also helps families alleviate some of the burden by offering gas cards and grocery cards.”

Naccarato told CTV News the sight of Corvettes rolling by never fails to lift spirits inside the hospital.

“It really just shows the support of the club,” she said.

“The patients love to look out their windows and see the parade and know that support is coming to them from the community.”