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LAPLACE — Each year, Ford Motor Company sponsors a one-day “Drive 4 Ur Community” event that raises up to $6,000 for a local school or community organization.

In 2019, Bayou Ford raised $3,200 for the LaPlace Rotary Club. This year, the goal is to raise up to $6,000 for the Relay for Life of St. James Parish, but it will take the support of the public to reach those fundraising heights.

Ford Motor Company will donate $20 for every community member who goes on a three-minute test drive March 14 at the Bayou Ford dealership, located at 555 Belle Terre Boulevard in LaPlace.

The test drive will take place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

Outside sales manager Robert Tamplain said it’s an easy way to benefit a worthy cause.

“Giving back will help us grow our business in the long run. We like to keep the dollars local and be an active supporter of the community,” Tamplain said.

It will take 300 test drives to raise the maximum $6,000. Participants will complete a simple pre-test drive and post-test drive survey. Food and drinks will be available on-site, and the test drive itself is a stress-free ride around the block.

Vehicles available for test drives include but are not limited to the Ford Edge, the Explorer, Fusion, Expedition, F150 and Mustang. Information on Ford products will be readily available for those interested in making a future purchase.

“Relay for Life wanted to make it a fun day for supporters to come out,” Tamplain said. “They are making it a competition between the different teams within the chapter. The team will get credit for the dollars collected from the test drivers they bring in.”

Relay for Life of St. James Parish will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 4 at the Lutcher Park Pavilion, and 2020 chair Rhonda Louque said there is still time to register teams on the Relay for Life website at secure.acsevents.org.

While the event takes place in St. James Parish, it is open to the entire River Region and surrounding areas. The St. James Parish Relay for Life is the No. 1 Relay team in the nation per capita, according to Louque.

“We raised over half a million dollars last year,” Louque said. “Gordon Klatt did the first relay walk, and this year, St. James won an award in his honor. We’ve actually had two grants named in St. James Parish. We have direct contact with the research development team, and we work hard to make sure money goes toward research and education.”

Louque said awareness events like Relay for Life and the Ford Drive 4 Ur Community fundraiser create awareness. That awareness lets people know they have somewhere to turn for support when they are faced with a frightening cancer diagnosis.

For more information, visit secure.acsevents.org. To learn more about the Bayou Ford community fundraiser taking place this weekend, please call 985-652-8000.

Bayou Ford is celebrating two years of serving the River Region this month.