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MAKE-A-WISH: Car show planned for UND campus
Members of a UND fraternity and friends are shining up their rides so they can show off for a good cause.
The Alpha Tau Omega house will put on a car show Saturday on the UND campus to help make a local 7-year-old boy's wish to see a NASCAR race and meet star Dale Earnhardt Jr. come true.
The event will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in the large parking lot behind the ATO house, near the corner of University Avenue and Cambridge Street. Cambridge (a one-way street) also will be shut down Saturday to make way for the car show, according to organizer and ATO member Chris Blachut.
"I came up with the idea in September or October," Blachut said. "I just wanted to do something big."
There's still time to register for the event. Participants, who want to display their cars, can take part in six competition classes: American muscle, American compact, imports, trucks, bikes and a decibel contest.
It costs $15 to enter, if registered by Friday, and $20 the day of the event. Groups of 10 or more pay $10 apiece.
First-place trophies will be issued in each class, Blachut said.
Proceeds will be used to send Lance Rayner and his family, of Finley, N.D., to the Nextel All-Star Challenge next month at Lowe's Motor Speedway in North Carolina. There the Rayners also hope to meet Earnhardt Jr.
The effort is being coordinated by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Fargo.
Rayner is being treated for two brain tumors. He is the son of Jason and Renae Rayner, and he's got a younger brother, Logan.
Sunday, Mayville State University's Student Activities Council and the school's residence halls association will hold a car wash from noon to 4 p.m. for Rayner and his family. It will take place in the parking lot of the Cenex store in Mayville.
Boachut, 21, a commercial aviation major from Chicago, said there could be as many as 100 cars displayed at ATO's car show at UND - some from as far away as the Twin Cities and Chicago. Members of a Fargo car club also are expected.
He said about 40 cars are confirmed for the event already.
Businesses have donated money for trophies and car parts for raffle prizes.
Already, ATO members have raised about $1,300 for the cause. Famous Dave's restaurant of Fargo will donate 20 percent of its Saturday profits for Rayner's trip to North Carolina.
"Our goal is about $4,000, if we go over 4,000 - then thank God," said Marko Jukic, 23, another ATO member.
Money will be accepted for the cause even after Saturday's car show. Donations can be sent to a special account set up at atoautoshow@gmail.com.
A few years ago, ATO members raised about $6,500 to send a young boy to Disney World through the Make-A-Wish Foundation by soaking in a hot tub in the front yard of their house for days on end.