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Community Corner

Car Show Fundraiser for Daniel Inglis an 'Emotional Day' [PHOTOS]

Owners of classic and new muscle cars and motorcycles came out to show their support for Daniel Inglis, as well as a chance to show off their vehicles.

Classic cars, older fire trucks and motorcycles lined the inside of Gille Park on Sunday afternoon. The car show was a fundraiser for Lacey firefighter, Daniel Inglis, who was injured in a car accident last December. The community showed their support for Inglis when he arrived around 1 p.m. by gathering around his van and cheering as he came out.

Inglis, who had not seen many of his friends since before his accident, was grinning from ear to ear the entire time he was at the show. As his wheelchair was pushed away from the van, friends and family took turns greeting him and welcoming him back into town.

“I think he has progressed really well,” Anthony Olivera, president of the motorcycle club Insane Riders, said. “He has always been true to the club, and we are true to him.”

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Inglis is a member of the Riders and they even brought his bike down for him. A green and black Kawasaki Ninja, the color scheme was the inspiration for a patch that every member of the club wore. Three interlocking hearts designed by Inglis’s sister Jessica, each represented what Inglis means to the club: Courage, Strength and Faith.

“This is an emotional day for a lot of people,” Jessica Inglis said. “Most of them have not seen him since before the accident. The turnout today is more than we thought and the support is wonderful.”

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As Inglis was pushed along the rows of cars by his father, Daniel Inglis Sr., friends and strangers alike came up to say hello and tell Inglis how proud they are and how he has inspired them with his strength.

As they finished a lap around the cars and returned to where the motorcycles were parked, every member of the Insane Riders started their bikes and revved them up for Inglis. When the bikes started to quiet down, the fire department and EMS chimed in with a few blasts from the trucks siren. Inglis looked as if he enjoyed every moment.

“The turnout from the town has been amazing. We have people showing up to the house everyday to help us get it ready for Daniel’s return next month. Plumbers, carpenters and more have all offered to help,” Inglis Sr., said. “Joe Rodriguez and John Aceto have been over every day helping us get the ramps ready and they have done an amazing job. Something like this really shows you how great people can be.”

According to Inglis Sr., their home is being renovated with a double size bedroom, ramps, a roll-in shower for easy access and a standby generator to power Inglis’s medical equipment if there is power loss. The Home Depot has donated all of the construction materials that were needed to the family.

“He’s close to being off oxygen all together,” Inglis Sr. said. “His lung function is really getting better.”

According to Inglis grandparents, Jim and Ethel Inglis, he has made a lot of progress.

“It’s night and day from how he looked back in March,” Jim Inglis said. “He really has come a long way.”

“The community has really come together too. People donated items, Applebees donated the food for today’s event,” Ethel Inglis said. “People have been stopping by the house at all times to help us get ready.”

Inglis is due to return home from the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation on Monday August 13.

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