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This is the new
How this came to be...
As I was leaving for the NCRS FL Winter Meet in Kissimmee in
January of 2006, I got a call from friend (and cancer survivor) Paul Eggermann (photo
collage). He was driving his new C6 home for the first time. He was ecstatic with
the new car and wanted to let me know that because my C5 then had nearly 200,000 miles on it, he thought I should have a new one to continue my endeavor
for the American Cancer Society. He started by e-mail to the C5/C6NET and encouraged everyone to forward his post to the various Corvette on-line forums. I am copying his original post, which you may have already seen, at the end of this page. His goal was to have Dave Hill present me with the keys at the C5/C6 Bash at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green KY on April 22, 2006! Three months? When he asked what I would do with the "old" car, I said that if he managed to pull this off I would put the old war-horse C5 up for auction, possibly right there at the Museum, with the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. (Fantasy outcome: the high $ buyer donates the car to the NCM!) To say that this campaign was overwhelming, intimidating and humbling to me would be a serious understatement! Here are links to 2 newspaper articles that have appeared on
the subject, one here in Maine and one in Paul's home area in NJ: If you do a Google search for "Ben Labaree C6 Fund"
you'll find a lot of hits: How you can help: Carlisle Events "bought" the hood. Several other
Sponsors signed up for spaces on the car for their LOGO ARTWORK and message
in sizes ranging in cost from $1100 up to $2,500. Individual donors of $100 or more have their names in silver on the doors, with $500 and above in gold. Separate panels behind the front wheels are reserved for "In Memory Of" names. My local dealer, Strong Chevrolet, went out on a limb to acquire the C6, with the help of GM Dealer Rep Stacey Glynn, seen here with Jim Dickau, Strong's General Manager.
Sponsorships are deductible, of course, as Advertising.
Individual contributions are gifts, and therefore not deductible. All
checks would be payable to "Ben Labaree C6 Fund" and sent to: Here's Paul's original broadcast, sent 1/21/06: ===================================================================== Here's Your Chance to Take Part in Something Really Special--A Part of Corvette History that Will Make A Big Difference to People For A Long Time To Come. As you know, Ben Labaree has been touring the country for the last 8 years in his 1997 C5. Ben, and his wife, Sandy, started the Corvettes Conquer Cancer Tour after she went through a devastating round of treatment for breast cancer. They sold their beloved 63 Vette and bought a used 97 with money from her IRA and a second mortgage on their house. Sandy and Ben campaigned the country during 98 and 99 until she finally succumbed to her ordeal. Ben has continued to this day. Tirelessly driving his trusty 97 C5 to Corvette events across the country and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the benefit of the American Cancer Society. He has also put over 200,000 miles on his car. It is time that Ben got a new car! It is time for US to give something back to him as small compensation for his selfless dedication to the memory of Sandy and the fight against cancer. I am a cancer survivor myself and have also lost dear ones to this deadly disease. I know first hand what this does to your spirit and have seen first hand the amazing things that people do when confronted with it. I am putting a challenge to all of you. Please help me raise $50,000 RIGHT NOW to buy a new C6 Corvette for Ben and his cause. I need all of you to send make out your check or money order in whatever amount you can afford to Ben Labaree C6 Fund and send it to the following address: Ben Labaree C6 FUND C/O Paul Eggermann 3 Potter Place Milltown, NJ 08850 732-249-0529 or cell, 732-895-8979. paulpegg@optonline.net THEN, I ask that you to forward this message to every Corvette owner and Corvette Club you know of and ask them to join us in this effort. We can do this! My goal is to have all the money by the end of February, 2006 and arrange for delivery of the car during the Birthday Bash Event at the National Corvette Museum during the week of April 20, 2006. Please help now. I have started this drive with a donation of $500 and several people have matched it already. Let's see what we can do together to make this happen NOW! I know you have it in you. I have seen you in action. Thirty of us raised $20,000 last July at the C5/C6Registry Maine Event in only one weekend. This new effort should be just as fast. Strong Chevrolet of Damariscotta, Maine provided the original Corvettes Conquer Cancer C5. They have wholeheartedly embraced this campaign and have agreed to provide the new car at or below dealer invoice and are going to approach the GM zone manager for additional help. I will be approaching all of Ben's sponsors next week. I am confident that they will come forward with strong support as well. Ben has agreed to donate his 97 to the Birthday Bash Auction with the proceeds to go to the American Cancer Society. Hopefully, one of you will buy it and donate it in turn to the Museum for inclusion in their permanent collection. Please help me do this for our own Ben Labaree. This is an opportunity to make a difference for one of our own. You will have a stake in his continued efforts and can be proud that you are a valuable part of his efforts when you see him at a local or national Corvette event. Thank you very much, Paul P. Eggermann --------------------------------------------------------------------- In a later post, Paul included this note: Stan Kessel from Texas had sent me a few hundred dollars when I first started. He just upgraded his contribution to $500 with these words "My next check is the mail when the mailman comes Tuesday. It will be really special when Ben is presented the new C6 at the NCM in BG at the BB in April. We hope we can be there with all the other contributors for this momentous occasion. This will become Corvette folklore and represent the caring of individuals who share the passion for great cars, great people and great causes!" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I brought it home for the first time on Saturday, April 8! Sitting in the driver's seat for the first
time: the car had been 10 miles away at Strong Chevrolet since Valentine's Day.
I had photographed it several times and measured the luggage area to compare to
the C5, but I had never SAT in it. I think I was afraid that if I did that
prematurely, I would suddenly wake up to find that it was all just a bizarre
dream! Compare this photo of Sandy sitting in the C5
for the first time, May 21, 1998: Side note: The same couple who drove Sandy and me to pick up the C5 in May of 1998 also picked me up and drove me to Strong's to pick up the C6! Sonny & Carolyn Soule, thanks for the memories! Driving away... Seeing me off were Bob Strong, who opened the
dealership 50 years ago, and his daughter Betsy Mahan, present owner. At home at last, after washing the car, I
applied the first decals (after Strong's): my incredibly supportive employer,
CBE Technologies! Old and new spent what would be their only night
together here... Sunday morning Dick Borchers loaded it up for
the trip to NJ where Paul Eggermann would have the major graphics applied. Dick
would then take it on to Bowling Green, delivering it to the National Corvette
Museum on Friday, 4/14. At 4:45 on 4/13/06 Paul sent me these photos, taken that afternoon, showing the newly applied graphics. Spectacular!
Chaz Cone managed to capture the moment on the
NCM web cam as it arrived there! I had the web cam on my computer at work all day, but
was in and out of the office and missed it. Thanks Chaz!
I wouldn't see the car again until Tuesday, 4/18 when I arrived there at the Museum for the C5/C6 Bash. On Saturday 4/22, at 10:30cdt, the car would be formally presented to me on the front apron of the museum by none other than Dave Hill, retired Corvette Chief Engineer and Vehicle Line Executive. http://www.corvettemuseum.com/registration/c5_bash/agenda.shtml Immediately thereafter, the ol' C5 would be auctioned off, with the proceeds to be split between the National Corvette Museum and the American Cancer Society. (Fantasy outcome: the buyer then donates the car to the Museum...) To see how it turned out, click HERE. How could I possibly thank Paul Eggermann for
devoting 3 months of his life, 12 hrs. a day, to this successful campaign!
Once this "little distraction" is out of the way, we will resume Sandy's mission of distributing cancer information and raising money for the American Cancer Society. We do this with a refreshed confidence in the tremendous support we have from the wonderful people of the Corvette Community!
Hey, all you potential Sponsors and
Donors: Contact me at:
Sponsors and Contributors Sponsors
Other Contributing Businesses Big Al’s Super Values Jim Browning Sr. Innovative Automotive Products, Inc. Pratt & Miller Engineering Contributing Clubs Logo Contributors
Other Clubs Central Jersey Corvette Club Corvette Legends Club Corvettes United Of Central Massachusetts Grand Sport Registry Lakes Region Corvettes NCRS FL Chapter Saint Louis Corvette Club Seacoast Vettes ZR1-NET Registry
Contributing Individuals Dee Abney Steve & Beverly Adams Dan Adovasio John & Frances Allain Donald Andrews Lonnie & Sandra Armstrong Len & Marga Atlas Thomas Bahmer, Sr. Hal & Sherry Baker Charles Bart Lois & Steve Batalla Harry & Elaine Becker John & Carma Bieglecki Gary & Nancy Bishop David & Liz Borden Walker Bower Austin & Lynda Brazee Ron & Judy Buckley Daniel Buckley Jr. Mike & Lisa Buick Del & Ileen Bunce Harry Burke Pete & Cindy Butler Brad & Pam Cahill Russ & Marybeth Caron Kent & Kathleen Cartner Tony & Marilyn Cenedella George & Jenny Christman Norm & Linda Clemmer Chaz & Gael Cone Rick “Corvette” Conti Ray & Jo Anne Cook Mac & Pauline Cross Gary Curry Glenn Darwin Barbara & John Davies John & Terry Dell'amico David & Barbara Demarco Bill Dickey Jeff & Cris Drais Jake Drennon Paul & Barbara Eggermann David & Barbara Ennis David & April Erickson Peter & Phyllis Farfaras Willie & Karen Favero Claudia & Dan Feidler Robert & Diane Finan Richard Fleming Bob & Kathryn Forgue Dana Forrester Ed Foy Gary & Mary Fromm Tom & Alice Fuscaldo Butch & Janice Geng Donna & Frank Genova Harvey Gluck Terry Golden Dennis & Maureen Granger Fern Gravel Tim Greenshields Bob & Vicky Hardt Bill & Kathy Henefelt Matthew & Carolyn Hetman Don & Karen Hindle Bernard & Ruth Hochberg Philip Holgado John & Caroline Jones Jim & Debbie Juliano Kurt & Lynn Kennedy Stan & Sherry Kessel Sonny & Carmen Kilgo Bill & Nancy Koller Steve Konkoly Barry & Dottie Landry Mike Lewis Ed & Ilene Licht Greg & Melinda Lloyd Rob Lockhart David & Joanne Lofgren Karen Lundgren Thomas Mabry Patrick & Theresa Mannix Larry & Peggy Martin William Masuda Bryan & Kim Matzdorff James & Donna McGowan Jack & Patty McKeon Mitch & Linda McLaughlin Wade & Peggy Mertz Bruce & Nancy Miller James & Thea Miller Jim Miller Sonny Mondia Marianne & Duane Mosher Tom Mueller Scotty Muir Larry Murphy Frankie & Kathe Murray II Clif & Kathleen Nagel Frank & Bettie Noerr Thomas Norman Ray & Shelly Olsen Gertrude O'Reilly Carol Orphanydis Ed Pahlman Greg Palmer Mark Passeri John & Nancy Pearl The Perrotty Family Bruce & Marilyn Phipps Ed & Robin Proctor Diane & Ed Quackenbush Glenda & Ron Raley Gary, Cheryl & Taylor Readio Ken & Vicki Robb Jim & Charley Robertson Mike & Jill Rosedale George & Rosellen Russell Roman & Marilyn Sabadaszka Dan & Priscilla Samento Tom Santangelo John Schieding Chuck & Star Scurr Jim & Susie Shearer Randall Shinn Joseph & Lynda Siwicki Ron Small Greg Sohovich Frank & Barbara Stech Fred & Jane Steinouer Wendell & Jan Strode William Taack Emile & Suzanne Tetu Emilie & John Thomas Jeff & Elisa Tischler Tony & Patricia Vernogis Hank & Sue Vezina George & Aida Walden Clark & Grace Ward Larry & Carol Watkins Donna & Robert Weikel Norman & Susan Wood George & Diane Woyansky Guy Wright Daniel & Gayle Zelonis |
