June 15, 2022 | Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
EAST LONGMEADOW – This summer, Maybury Material Handling will host “Cruising for a Cause,” a series of classic car cruise nights to benefit Baystate Health’s Rays of Hope. The cruise nights will take place beginning on June 22 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and continue July 27 and Aug. 24, at the company’s facility at 90 Denslow Rd.
Founded in 1994, the Rays of Hope Center for Breast Cancer Research provides funding for equipment, breast health programs and outreach. Company President John Maybury has been a member of the Baystate Health Foundation and the Baystate Board of Directors over the past few decades. He has had family affected by breast cancer, so it is a cause close to his heart.
Maybury praised Rays of Hope. “I’m just impressed with how it takes a situation and makes the best of it,” he said.
Before COVID-19 made fundraising events more difficult to host, Maybury Material Handling would host fundraising nights for various charities, often once a month from May through October. This is the first fundraiser the company has put together since the coronavirus pandemic began. Maybury said he decided to ease back into it, by raising money for Baystate Health’s Rays of Hope over three months during the summer.
All donations will go to support Rays of Hope and special awards will be given to the classic entries who cruise with Maybury each night.
Maybury is expecting over 100 classic cars at these events. In years past, he said cruise nights would attract between 150 and 200 people. He is expecting even more attendees for the three planned this summer. “People in that community want to get out and meet up. It’s a good networking and local thing to do.”
The events are also a showcase for Maybury’s products. Maybury Material Handling, which provides industrial products and services to manufacturing, distribution and warehousing facilities, will have some of their equipment available for viewing as well as tours of the facility.
“It’s just a fun community thing,” Maybury said.
For more information on the Cruising for a Cause events, visit www.maybury.com.