Family, friends pitch in to raise funds for research
CENTER TWP — Since the death of his wife from lymphoma two years ago, Bill Errera has made fighting cancer a family concern.
Errera's children, in-laws and friends all participate in the staging of car shows, offering disc jockey services and selling T-shirts that raise money for cancer research.
The longtime owner of Bill Errera's Auto Sales and Services, 2132 William Flynn Highway, which he founded in 1982, has turned most of the day-to-day running of the garage and towing service to his daughter, Kristie Wigton, to devote more time to putting on car shows to raise money for cancer charities.
“I'm not in it day to day anymore,” said Errera. “I started with my wife. When she passed on, I do it for cancer charities.”
Errera said he arranges the car shows at fire halls and businesses.
His daughter, Lisa Minteer, provides DJ services and makes announcements during the events.
Errera said, “I have sponsors bringing me stuff for basket auctions, door prizes.”
He said his next car show, Sunday at the Prospect Fire Hall, will raise money for the volunteer fire department, but the money raised from the sales of his T-shirts at the event will all go to St. Jude Research.
He said, “I've been able to raise funds for the Unionville fire department, the Prospect fire department, the Slippery Rock department and cancer research.”
Errera has turned over more than $4,300 to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Minteer said, “Last year we raised $5,300 for cancer research. This year, we've raised $3,300 so far.”
Errera said it's not hard to find car owners willing to come or crowds willing to see vintage automobiles.
“The Butler Area Street Machines car club has been a supporter,” said Errera.
He said the vintage car community is a tight one.
“It's one big family. Their kids come. Their grandkids come,” he said.
Wigton added, “Hovis Auto Parts and R.W. McDonald do a lot, so does Campbell Notary and NexTier Bank.”
“There's a long list of businesses that donate a lot to St. Jude's,” added Minteer.
Errera is joined by his son, Steve Errera, friend Cheryl Schnitzer and girlfriend, Donna Neff, who all help him stage the auto shows.
“I've got six more shows planned for this year,” he said. “Next year, I'm getting ready to do two shows for handicapped kids.”
Finding ways to fight cancer is a very personal cause for Errera. Not only did lymphoma claim his wife of 54 years, he himself has survived bouts of prostate and thyroid cancer.
WHAT: Prospect Fire Hall Car CruiseWHEN: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. SundayWHERE: Prospect Fire Hall, 373 Main St., ProspectINFO: Food, door prizes, raffle, auction, music
