Cruise for a Cause – “In the end, it’s the people,”
In late 2009/early 2010, over a span of just six weeks, Marshfield resident Dan Neve’s mother and wife were both diagnosed with breast cancer. Wanting to make a difference for them and others suffering, he founded “Cruise For A Cause.” Using his Shelby GT500 as a mobile billboard, the 501(c)3 organization travels throughout the country, raising awareness and funds for research.
“I started out in 2010 after I had bought the new car,” said Neve, whose lifelong dream was to own a Shelby GT500, a powerful car limited in distribution. “I decided to use the car to raise awareness and money.”
His goal was to raise $10,000 that first year, and then call it quits. Six years later, he’s still going, having traveled to 26 states and having raised $200,000 for cancer research. Neve travels during his vacation time from work at Staab Construction.
“I continue to raise awareness and funds because we haven’t found a cure yet,” he said. He equates cancer to polio, something that was very prevalent when he was a child.
“Today I don’t know anybody with Polio,” he said. “My goal is for future generations to not know cancer.”
Funds raised have helped Susan G Komen For The Cure, LeRoy Butler Foundation, and for the last three years, Cruise For A Cause has fully supported the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation.
Since beginning his mission, Neve has lost a sister to breast cancer, and another sister-in-law is currently seeking treatment. His mother-in-law recently successfully completed treatment, and his wife and mother are both doing well in recovery. Though his family has been personally impacted by the disease, Neve is eager to help everyone affected by the disease.
“In the end, it’s the people,” he said. “My hope is to give them some relief or sense that people care about them. Everybody that is survivors or are going through it, they tell me their stories are thankful for what I’m doing.”
With the mission to bring the Message Of Hope to those who need it and along the way find the finances to cure cancer, Cruise For A Cause
In June 2015, Ford Motor Company gave Neve a brand-new 2015 670-horsepower Roush Stage 3 Mustang. Neve, a regular at Ford events, also corresponds with the company regularly and exchanges e-mails with Edsel Ford, Henry Ford’s great-grandson.
Cruise for a Cause finishes its year by hosting the FALL CRUISE FOR A CAUSE in scenic Wisconsin Dells the first full weekend of October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This event is open for all to attend and a chance to see some of the finest kept Ford vehicles throughout the Midwest.
Help us raise funds for local breast cancer research! 100% of proceeds will be donated to Cruise For A Cause. http://varsityink.store/cruise-for-a-cause/
