CHARITY FUNDRAISER
Karz 4 Kidz, a car show aimed at raising funds for the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation, held their event in Kirkland on Saturday with a variety of cars, including Stephane Leduc’s 1981 DeLorean.
The sun came out in full force Saturday in what was the most successful Karz 4 Kidz car show.
The event in Kirkland raised more than $18,000 for the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation.
The event, organized by siblings Alexandria and Michael Tremis, saw 123 cars and “hundreds more spectators” come out in memory of Christopher Fonseca, a friend who fought a 13-year battle with brain cancer. He died at 17 years old in 2013. Alexandria and Michael are now 28 and 26, respectively.
In 2010, when she and her brother first met Fonseca, they were looking for a worthy cause for an event that would combine Michael’s love of cars — a passion that was passed onto him by their father and grandfather — and Alexandria’s volunteering experience.
They held the first Karz 4 Kidz fundraiser in Fonseca’s honour that year, raising $2,000. “He loved it,” said Carlos Fonseca, Christopher’s father. “It was a great day for him.”
They’ve since collected almost $80,000 for the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation. Since Christopher’s death, 50 per cent of the funds go to the Christopher Fonseca Fund, supporting the hospital’s neuro-oncology program. The other half goes toward the hospital’s most urgent needs, as decided by the foundation, Alexandria said. In the future, Carlos said that they would also like to fund research.
“We’re hoping that through our efforts, we can do something for the kids who are still at the hospital,” Carlos said.
As of Monday, their eighth edition has raised $18,200, Alexandria said. But as donations continue to trickle in following the event, she said they hope to raise as much as $20,000 by the end of the summer.
Carlos seemed hopeful as their event gains popularity. “The West Island has really come together.”
Donations can be made directly through the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation’s website,