In the past nine years, the Ultimate Drive has raised more than $9 million for breast cancer research, education, screening, community outreach and treatment programs
Flemington BMW, a member of the Flemington Car & Truck Country Family of Dealerships, hosted BMW’s 10th annual Ultimate Drive Program for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation on April 18. The highlight of the event was the ceremony to honor Local Hero Nancy Fearing, a five-year survivor of breast cancer who lives in Flemington.
Steve Kalafer, chairman of Flemington Car & Truck Country, officially introduced Ms. Fearing as this year’s hero and presented her with a bouquet of pink roses and a pink Ultimate Drive watch.
"Every year, the community comes together for this event, and every year, we select a hero from our community to be the standard-bearer in the crusade against the disease of cancer," he said.
"Our hero this year, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 and is a registered mammographer in the Department of Medical Imaging at the Hunterdon Medical Center, has learned more about the disease in a short time than I have in the 15 years since I conquered cancer. She is fearless."
"I’ve supported this event for nine years but never thought I’d be at the podium!" said Ms. Fearing, who has worked in radiology for 39 years but made a point of learning to be a mammographer after her diagnosis.
In addition to working full time at the medical center, she volunteers for various organizations, including Partners in Healing, a cancer survivors’ group at the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center.
Thanking her family and friends for their personal support, as well as Mr. Kalafer and BMW of North America for the continued opportunity to raise awareness in the community, she urged all to make sure every woman they know gets a mammogram.
"Technology is so advanced today that very early stages of cancer can be detected and eradicated by simple surgery," she said.
The general public was invited to drive the fleet of 19 titanium silver BMWs, which was led by a signature car a 2006 3-Series. A photo of Ms. Fearing was affixed to the signature car, which was signed by Ms. Fearing and every other participating driver. For each mile driven in one of the ribbon-adorned vehicles, $1 was donated to the Komen Foundation.
"This is the eighth year we’ve participated," said Byron Brisby, president of Flemington Car & Truck Country. "It’s one of the highlights of the year. From our hero to the Flemington Car & Truck Country staff who have helped organize the event, everyone is dedicated to the cause, and it’s truly inspiring to see."
"The turnout was fabulous this year," said Ellen Nardoni, customer relations manager at Flemington Car & Truck Country and organizer of the event. "We had scheduled 122 test drives, and an additional 72 people showed up to drive. So there were 194 test drives for a total of 3,110 miles, or $3,110."
Flemington Car & Truck Country Family of Dealerships made an additional donation of $1,500, to bring the total of money raised this year to $4,610.
The event took place in the brand new, 64,000-square-foot BMW dealership on Routes 202/31. Billed as "the ultimate BMW shopping destination," Flemington BMW encompasses space for 100 cars in a luxurious indoor parking garage, private mini-offices for customers, a children’s play area and wi-fi facilities for BMW owners waiting for their car to be serviced, as well as a commercial-grade car wash, free for any BMW owner.
According to Mr. Brisby, the man responsible for the design, the new building is state-of-the-art, and makes Flemington BMW an exclusive dealership.
"That makes it easier for us to offer our customers a premium buying experience," he said.
In the past nine years, the Ultimate Drive has raised more than $9 million for breast cancer research, education, screening, community outreach and treatment programs. The goal for 2006 is to raise $1 million. The drive continues through October 2006 and for the first time will include events in Alaska.
Flemington BMW is located on Routes 202 & 31 and is a member of the Flemington Car & Truck Country Family of Dealerships offering 20 brands of new and more than 650 quality certified, pre-owned vehicles on Routes 202 and 31 in Flemington, Route 206 in Princeton, and Route 31 at Route 78 in Clinton.