TORONTO — The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) is dedicating its inaugural Big Wheels Car & Bike Rally on Sept. 12 to the memory of two members of the OTA family who were recently taken far too young — Lucas Redpath of Cummins Eastern Canada and director of the OTA Allied Trades Division, and Mitchell Pogue, son of OTA Board member David Pogue, president of E.G. Gray Transportation.

A portion of funds from every ticket sold will be donated in their names. In the name of Lucas Redpath, funds will be given to the OTA Education Foundation where they will be used to benefit OTA allied trade applicants in 2014. In honour of Mitchell Pogue, the remaining funds will be given to an Ontario college that is offering a firefighting program.

“I cannot tell you how much it means to me and my family that the association has chosen to honour Mitchell with a donation to a program and pursuit that meant so much to him,” said David Pogue. “Mitchell was a voluntary fireman in his community; it was his passion and a way for him to give back.”

“We are honoured OTA and its members are remembering Lucas in this way,” said Michael Christodoulou, president, Cummins Eastern Canada. “He was a great young man, who was dedicated to the industry and to the association; I am sure he would be very proud and appreciative.”

Cummins Eastern Canada has also committed future contributions to the OTA Education Foundation in the memory of Lucas Redpath.

Scott Smith, president of J.D. Smith and Sons and Chairman of the OTA Education Foundation, says “the entire reason the Foundation exists is to enrich the lives of young people through advanced learning at the post-secondary level. Directing donations collected through OTA’s Big Wheels Car & Bike Rally to post-secondary education, either through the Foundation or directly to a college, is a great way to celebrate these two exceptional young men.”

The ultimate destination of the first-ever Big Wheels Car & Bike Rally is the Horseshoe Valley Resort where there will be a BBQ in the late afternoon. Golf will also be available at the resort the following day.

Even if you don’t ride a bike or sports car, OTA said, you can come out and support the cause by attending the post-rally BBQ and consider staying the next day for golf or many of other recreational activities at Horseshoe. So, rally around a cause, do some networking and enjoy the festivities.