Photo Courtesy of Gina Rubino
On Saturday, May 7, 2016, the rain broke long enough to bring out the sunshine, along with hundreds of “Wioters” for the Wheels for Wyatt car show event. Folks from all over the tri-state area, and as far as South Carolina, turned up to support Wyatt Black and his family.
Wyatt has been battling bacterial meningitis at the Hershey Medical Center since February and continues to conquer his condition every day. Throughout this trying ordeal, friends and strangers alike have been rallying behind the Black family to reveal what the Thurmont community is made of—strength, perseverance, and pride.
Registration for the event was at a max, hosting about sixty cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors, and even a toy trike. 99.9 WFRE’s Dave Conrad led riders from Harley Davidson of Frederick to the Thurmont Carnival Grounds, where participants lined up their vehicles to show off to the judges. The WFRE duo, Conrad and Brian Mo, led the event’s activities, along with Thurmont’s DJ Ewok, while local bands Southern Valley Band and JR’s Country Band performed.
Participants enjoyed raffle prizes, auction winnings, face painting, food, and good times. Around noon, the “Wioters’s” rally cries turned to rumbles when Conrad invited everyone to start their engines; every engine and every person fired up to show their support for the Black family. And that’s what this event was all about. Organizers Kristie and Mark Hopkins turned what began as a small fundraiser into an epic event. They were inundated with volunteers, donations, and supporters, willing to do anything to help one of their own. With about $10,000 raised, it can be said that they did just that.
Thank you to everyone who made this event not only a possibility, but a huge success. Special gratitude and appreciation go out to Mayor John Kinnaird, the Thurmont Fire Department, the Thurmont Police, and all of the volunteers who made this event both fun and safe for everyone.
