Trucker’s Parade Takes It On The Road Against Cancer

This year was the fourteenth Trucker’s Parade against Cancer. If you have never seen it, it is hard to imagine. The trucks that turned out for the event this year made a line that went slam out of sight on a straight road. 149 big trucks of all types participated in the parade. New or old, road tractor or rescue vehicle, even private truck, or commercial fleet member, each one travelled the parade route displaying a banner in memory or in honor of a person that had battled cancer. “In Loving Memory,” or “We Miss you” thoughtfully offered up an introduction for the person on the banner. This was, after all, a rolling tribute to the people that had fought this scourge that affects so many in the United States, in the world even. Those banners alone, so proudly worn by the trucks in the parade, raised $44,500.00 for the American Cancer Society. In strategic spots all along the parade route, pockets of spectators lined up on the side of the road, waiting to cheer the trucks on, and to get a glimpse of one notorious, black “Smokey and the Bandit” Trans Am of Hollywood movie fame along with its real movie sidekick, the black road tractor pulling the trailer painted up with the Stagecoach robbery scene. It was quite a sight, seeing them travelling in tandem, thankfully, a lot slower than in the movie! All along the parade route people congregated to see and hear the trucks. Some of the spectators recognized the names on the trucks, or even the trucks or the drivers. Many of the trucks were logging trucks, and had come in filthy from work the day before the parade. The owners and drivers then stayed up late into the night washing and waxing their rigs for the event the next day. During the parade, spectators everywhere offered up the universal fist pump hand signal that we all learned to call for a truck’s horn blast. It was an all too familiar sight, and the trucks were all too happy to oblige. The cacophony of airhorns was deafening, but it did not matter. The louder the horns, the bigger the smiles!

There was even a helicopter overhead getting aerial coverage of the convoy and the crowds that came to see it. Aside from doing an excellent job covering the parade along its route, Paul Jackson, the pilot and owner of the helicopter, went so far as to auction off rides in his Robinson R44 helicopter to the general public, and then, in the spirit of giving, donated the proceeds to the American Cancer Society. There were State and local police stationed all along the way for crowd and traffic control, as well as for escorts in front of and behind the parade. The flashing blue lights served as a cue to the crowds. At the beginning: “They’re coming!!” and at the end: “There they go!”  All of it made for quite an experience for the quiet little towns through which the parade passed. Don’t let these quiet towns fool you though. The Trucker’s Parade Against Cancer raised more than $50,000 this year. Additionally, Abilene Trucking donated $100.00 to the American Cancer Society for each person that shaved their head for the cause. Right now, 51 people have a buzz cut for the fight against Cancer. The American Cancer Society has another $5,100 with which to find a cure. Susan Jones put the call out to all when she cut her hair, ”It’s a $100.00 donation you all. Cheers, it’s easy money.”

There was a cake auction as well. Lealon Vassar of Keysville bought the highest paying cake for $2,500.00. The top three cakes generated in excess of $3,000.00!

It didn’t take much digging to find out just how much cancer affects our lives. In fact, the prevalence of cancer in the U.S. is staggering. According to the American Cancer Society, some14.5 million people either have, or have had cancer. From a practical standpoint, that means chances are that you or someone in your family has been affected by cancer, or you know someone that has. That is why it so important that we continue to get involved in events like the Trucker’s Parade against Cancer, or the Relay for Life events that happen everywhere in our area. There is always a way to get involved, just as the good people of our community demonstrated this past Saturday The work will not be finished until cancer is gone from our lives.