By Wendy Elliott
welliott@kingscountynews.ca
A month ago, the Cap it for Cancer campaign was launched from the Milne Court Petro-Canada gas station on Commercial Street in New Minas.
During the first two weeks, over $4,000 was raised as tiny neo pink tire pressure caps were applied to vehicles at the station.
"Cap it for Cancer is a wonderful idea and really easy for everyone to participate," said originator Scott Fraser, who owns Milne Court. "We are hoping to raise in excess of $15,000 for breast cancer programs."
When asked about the fundraiser's origin, Fraser said almost 3,000 tires are checked per month because improperly inflated tires pose a safety issue for customers. Tires with the correct pressure allow the vehicle to operate more efficiently, thus making it better for the environment, he said.
One day, he recalled, as “we were checking our customers tires at the self-serve lanes, we saw green caps - which indicate tires inflated with nitrogen - and began wondering if we could get them in pink. It took some extensive research, but we found some."
To his knowledge, Fraser said, this yearlong fundraiser is the only one of its kind in the world.
Recently, Peter Milne, the so-called Milne Court Ambassador, capped a customer and he was handed $5. The customer indicated they wanted to “pay it forward” and asked him to cap the next car that came in.
Since the campaign began Nov. 2, sets of caps have been sent to Missouri, Ottawa, San Antonio and Nebraska. Participation is simple, Fraser says: donate $2 and receive four valve stem caps to adorn your tires.
Drivers will have their tire pressure checked and 100 per cent of any donation will support breast cancer initiatives, he added.
Shipping and handling charges will be forwarded to the Flowercart in New Minas, who are using this opportunity as vocational training and employment for intellectually disabled adults, Fraser noted.
