Being a tire-kicker in Airdrie has never been so rewarding and worthwhile, as Tires On The Run prepares to help out a local family for a good cause with its “Free Flat Repair and Tire Inspection Day” on Oct. 21.
Several local businesses, including All Fits Automotive, Maaco Autobody Shop and Painting, Brockways Automotive, ATR Logistics, Big Ben Cleaning, Snap-On Tools, and North Country Tire, are banding together with Tires On The Run to help raise money for Airdrie’s McPhail family to support their efforts in fundraising for a new accessible van for their six-year-old son Bronson, who has Cerebral Palsy.
“We thought that would be a very noble cause to help out with, and it is local support from ourselves and other local companies,” explained Roger Foster, owner of Tires On The Run and the main organizer of “Free Flat Repair Day.”
“What we are going to do (on Oct. 21) is we are going to have a day where we are going to do free flat repairs and free tire inspections. We are not going to accept payments for the services ourselves, but we will accept donations for the family.”
On The Run will be doing most of the work for the "Free Flat Repair Day" event, but will be receiving matching donations from its partner companies for any dollars they bring in for the McPhails.
Foster said even if local residents don’t require any tire-related services, they could still drop by to make a donation to help out a local family in need.
“That will be matched as well,” he said.
Foster said he was moved by the McPhails’ call out to the community for help, and felt that it was incumbent on area businesses to step up and support a local family as best they could under these sorts of circumstances.
“We think that local causes are sometimes best served through local support,” he explained. “Airdrie has been exceptionally kind to our company, so we are always looking for ways to be kind to the community.”
Kayla McPhail, who is mother to Bronson, said she was overwhelmed by all the community support her family has received, and thankful to Foster and all the businesses taking part in “Free Flat Repair Day.”
“I think just seeing how the community is coming together to support us, with no one really knowing us but having our story touch them and hit home, is really incredible,” she said.
Besides the “Free Flat Repair Day” fundraiser, a GoFundMe campaign to help the Airdrie family buy an accessible transport van for their child has raised over $61,000 of the total price tag of $108,000, as of Oct. 14.
With the money that has come in to date, McPhail was happy to report her family has been able to make a substantial down payment to secure their new van.
“It feels amazing,” she said. “It is so incredible … all the donations coming in just means the world to us, and Bronson.”
Tires On The Run is asking the public to call ahead of time to book an appointment for a tire repair on Oct. 21 at (403) 472-4246, or book on its website at TiresOnTheRun.ca. Tire inspections can be done without an appointment.
Online donations can be made to the McPhail’s GoFundMe page at gofundme.com/f/bronsons-bus-fund or donations can be dropped off in person at the Tires On The Run shop at 143 East Lake Boulevard NE, Unit 102.
