Cruising for the Cure 2014 To Mark Its Sixth Year At Torch Lake! July 18-19
Perfection!
As you may recall, last year we visited Torch Lake to be involved in the Cruising For The Cure event to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research. Well, we are pleased…no wait, beyond words to announce that $30,000 was raised for the research, and to date over $70,000 has been raised. But 2013 was a massive year and raised more than any year before. Fellow Woody Boater Rick Thie has been a tireless machine in making this an annual fund raiser and its paid off. Below is the official press release. I copy and pasted it. All I could do is mess it up in spelling mistakes. Take it away Rick!
The official ad for the event
The Jane Thie Memorial Torch Lake Antique & Classic Wooden Boat Rendezvous – “Cruising for the Cure” – will mark its sixth year of bringing the message of hope to those individuals and families impacted by a pancreatic cancer diagnosis as event proceeds fund critical research for cancer of the pancreas.
The show is fun, the water is insane blue and the cause is right!
Cruising for the Cure was held for the first time in July 2009. “We wanted to create a unique, family friendly event as a tribute to my mother who died from pancreatic cancer and to bring together antique and wooden boat enthusiasts from the Chain of Lakes region,” says Rick Thie, the event creator and founding president of the Jane H.Thie Memorial Fund, Inc. Rick adds, “It’s all about creating special memories and to hopefully help those battling pancreatic cancer to have the opportunity to experience more of life’s memorable moments.” Rick and his wife, Ellie, restored their classic 1953 Chris Craft 22 foot Sportsman utility which was a boat of the same make, model and year that Rick’s mother enjoyed when spending her summers on Torch Lake. The restoration was completed in time for her to take her first and final ride as she died from pancreatic cancer four months later In January of 2007.
Ricks U22 on the left. Lily, Chads U18 on the right. Getting fueled up!
The 2014 event kicks off with the “Party on the Pier” on Friday, July 18 at The Dockside from 6:30 – 9:30p.m. Tickets are limited and the cost is $50.00 per person. “Party on the Pier” is open to the public and features good food, good drink, and great fun along with a silent auction. On Saturday, July 19, approximately 70 original and restored vintage wooden boats will be on exhibit representing the 1920s-1960s. Brands include Chris Craft, Garwood, Hacker Craft, Higgins, Peterborough, Century, Lyman, Duke, and Thompson just to name a few.
Twin Gar Woods having fun at the show!
While a majority of boats participating in this annual invitational show make their home in the Chain of Lakes Region, there are also several exhibitors that attend from around the country. There is an in water boat display at DeWitt Marine, from 8:00 a.m.—3:30 p.m. and at The Dockside Restaurant from 8 a.m. until noon. In addition, there is an on-land inboard, outboard and non-powered display at Butch’s Tackle and Marine from 8:00 a.m.-3:30p.m. Butch’s Tackle & Marine will also be sponsoring LIVE entertainment beginning at 11:30 AM with the sounds of Elvis Tribute artist, Jake Slater. The Parade of Boats will commence at 3:30 p.m. departing from the docks at Dewitt Marine, proceed around Clam Lake, through Clam River and out onto Torch Lake. This year’s Parade of Boats will feature as grand marshals members of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Team from the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. Admission to all exhibits is free. Donations are welcome at each of the three boat show display venues.
Here is a fuzzy photo of a big check. That Checkbook does not fit in your pocket!
A commemorative poster and a 2015 Antique and Classic Wooden Boat calendar featuring the boats that have participated in the Cruising for the Cure event will be on sale. Souvenir T-shirts are available for purchase. All net proceeds benefit the Jane H.Thie Memorial Fund, Inc., a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, and are distributed to the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute to fund research critical to finding a cure for pancreatic cancer. “While this is a fun event, what’s most important are the dollars we’re able to raise to support pancreatic cancer research.” said Thie. To date, the Jane H. Thie Memorial Fund has donated over $70,000 to the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. Thie adds, “My mom would have been so delighted to see the effort her family and the community have made in helping to fund research to eradicate pancreatic cancer.”
Look at that water! That’s real.. No color correction, not a bit. It’s like a huge swimming pool.
Sponsors for this year’s event include Dewitt Marine, The Dockside, Butch’s Tackle & Marine, Hagerty Marine Insurance, The Vic McCarty Show WMKT 1270 AM and 92.1 FM, WoodyBoater and the Water Wonderland Chapter of the ACBS, Inc. For more information on the event and sponsorship opportunities, please call 810-441-4792 or visit www.CruiseforCure.org. Torch Lake Antique & Classic Wooden Boat Rendezvous – Cruising for the Cure 2014 is a fundraiser for the Jane H. Thie Memorial Fund, Inc, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization benefiting the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute to fund research for a cure for pancreatic cancer. For more information on the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute visit www.Karmanos.org.
just don’t sit there this summer. Come on up!
This is a fun, well organized event that we have attended for the last two years. The Friday night party is a blast, the show is in a great venue, and Torch Lake is some of the finest cruising in Michigan as seen in the photo. I am so pleased that Matt is helping to promote this event for Rick. Have a great time for a wonderful cause in Michigan!
Great cause. Great show. Can’t wait!
This is the perfect Woody Boater event, its fun, its about being out on the water and the money made goes to a good cause! If you cant go, donate. Lets break last years record!
This will be our forth year to this event. It is one of our “do not miss” events each year. Come on up for the Friday Water Wonderland Chapter “Poker Run and Lunch” , all proceeds go to the Event Charity $20.00 per hand and a cool way to see the Torch Lake shoreline.
As Greg said, the Friday night silent auction has some top notch items to bid on, and the waterfront setting is perfect to watch boats come and go into the river off Torch Lake. The Sunsets are to die for also.
Early Saturday morning there is a fly by photo shoot out on Torch Lake, for pictures to be in next years Calendar they sell for charity.
Then there is the parade lap around the Clam River/Lake, where residents sit on tier docks and hold up score cards as you pass by!
Now you see why Ronnie and I love to go to this event? Oh yea, somewhere in there, they even have time set aside for a Classic boat show!
Great Lakes Scuttlebutt Magazine is proud to be one of the Sponsors once again.
One of the last family photos of my nephew Mark Baas (moustachioed in the middle) before his bout with this disgusting disease ended at age 56. It hits hard and fast. He was gone in two months since diagnosis. A car guy and a fishing boat guy…he helped me tow my first woody home. I miss him too much to tell.