Guy Moley’s Cancer Fighting Angels hosts its Sixth Touch A Truck fundraiser

By Joanie Allbee

Blessed Sacrament’s parking lot at 14 Summer St. quickly filled the afternoon with roaring motors, honking horns and family fun. Guy Moley’s Cancer Fighting Angels – which includes Brenda, his wife, Jodi, Alexis, John Melanson, John Gilmore and Darlene Coates – hosted its sixth annual Touch A Truck event last Sunday (June 1) afternoon.

“Today’s event was for Breast Cancer Awareness and the National Kidney Foundation because there was no Wakefield Relay for Life this year,” Guy said.

Guy’s angels have been involved with “Relay For Life” since his mother, Irene Comeau, passed away with esophageal cancer. The Cancer Fighting Angels have been generously organizing fundraising events for 16-plus years; they aim for two a year.

A variety of truck owners warmly welcomed visitors to step inside their vehicles to explore and dream a little. As imaginations ran wild, kids were taking over the drivers’ seats in police cruisers, fire trucks and18-wheeler cabs while smiling parents were snapping photos. The USMC Rescue Boat looked like a Noah’s Ark full of screaming, laughing kids pretending to be adults on duty. Boston Dynamics profoundly demonstrated Spot, the robotic dog. Spot walked over to crowds with the usual canine curiosity behaviors. The kids’ faces lit up at Spot’s personal greetings. Raffles were held and prizes were won while lemonade, games and Country music filled the air.

Melrose Police Dept. Officer John Doherty readily assisted folks to sit on one of their police motorcycles. Luke Desisto of Wakefield brought his Marine tow truck that had seen battle in Ramadi, Iraq, with the USMC until it was retired in 2012. Saugus Police Officer Dominic Montano and his wife Deanna were on hand together to talk and showcase the Pink Patch Project car. Police presented a dog-sniffing demonstration in which the dog performed remarkably well.

Dan Sullivan, a Lynn Firefighter/Paramedic, demonstrated the uses of drones. Dan had a propped-up monitor screen in his truck that displayed his drone’s activities and whereabouts. With his remote panel, he pulled the drone from the sky and perfectly landed the DJI R3OT Drone on its home base mat.

The Action Emergency Management team stepped aside while kids climbed aboard and took over their vehicle. People were walking around, enjoying slices of pizza from J & M Italian American Cuisine of Saugus at a table they had set up.

Later, when all tallies were added up, Guy Moley’s Mom’s Cancer Fighting Angels raised $1,000 – $500 went to Breast Cancer Awareness and $500 to the National Kidney Foundation.

“I am so proud of the events we do,” Guy said.

“We have been doing these for over 16 years,” he said.

“Back in the beginning, it was a night out at Fuddruckers with raffles. Eleven years ago, we began the car shows. And after someone suggested we do something for the kids, we decided to add ‘Touch A Truck.’ No one knew what it was, but Jim Boland, former owner of Fuddruckers of Saugus said, ‘Guy, if you believe in it, I believe it will succeed.’ Six years later, it’s the biggest in Saugus.”