Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

DOWAGIAC — One of Dowagiac’s most popular events is set to descend on downtown for a good cause next week.

The seventh annual Ed’s Open Header Cruise will take place at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 25 to benefit the Cass County Cancer Service, a nonprofit, volunteer-led organization that aids cancer patients in gas cards for patients, helping with paying utility bills or even just emotional support. The service also provides hospital equipment including beds, wheelchairs, walkers and more. The only qualification for cancer patients to receive assistance from the service is they must live in Cass County.

Participants in the Open Header Cruise will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Thomas J. Mosier Waterwell Drilling, 21867 M-60 East, Cassopolis. A police escort will leave from Cassopolis at 6:40 to lead the cruise into downtown Dowagiac, where participants can gather at the Dowagiac James E. Snow Professional Building for a cook-out. The entry fee for motor vehicles looking to participate in the procession is $20, with vehicles of all makes and models welcome.

The annual event is named in honor of Ed Kazlauskas, who along with event organizer Curt Rohdy helped organize the Dowagiac Car Show downtown for 16 years. When the duo passed the organizing to someone else, they discussed planning an open header cruise to raise money for a local charity. 

Before plans ever came together, Kazlauskas was diagnosed with cancer and passed away at the age of 60, on Feb. 13, 2016.

Rohdy has since kept their dream alive and plans the open header cruise in Kazlauskas’ honor. 

“I think it’s a good thing,” Rohdy said. “If this money raised for the Cass County Cancer Service helps one person, that’s a good thing. I’m not looking for praise or anything, it’s just something where if it helps the community, it’s a good thing.”

Honor Credit Union of Dowagiac, 56337 M-51 S., presented Rohdy and Cass County Cancer Services with a $1,000 check Tuesday in support of the annual summer event. According to HCU Community Development Officer Janie Reifenberg, CCCS was the perfect organization to partner with because 100 percent of the funds they receive from donors goes directly to the community. 

To date, more than $44,000 in total funds have been raised for CCCS via Ed’s Open Header. 

“Everybody’s been touched by somebody who’s had cancer or is fighting cancer and it’s just nice knowing that we’re doing something to help,” Reifenberg said. “We see a guy who’s just a guy that cares about his community, lost his friend and wants to keep the memory of his friend alive. To us, that’s a win-win and a no-brainer because that’s what we love to do.”

The open header cruise will also coincide with the Dowagiac Summer Concert Series, with the band Taste of Texas performing at 7:30 p.m. at the Dowagiac Library Event Pavilion. The Dowagiac Fire Department will be grilling hot dogs and bratwurst for a donation.

“It’s kind of a little celebration all on its own because people really look forward to getting there early and then the camaraderie there I think is really spectacular,” Reifenberg said. “Everyone’s looking at each other’s cars, they’re visiting, they’re talking and there’s food.”

The Dowagiac Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Department and the Village of Cassopolis Police Department will support the cruise, according to Rohdy. 

True’s Towing and Recovery will supply three wreckers and help block traffic. In addition, if someone’s car breaks down, True’s Towing and Recovery will tow the vehicle home for the owner at no charge.

Reifenberg, Kazlauskas’ sister, and Kazlauskas’ son, Jim, of Jim D’s Body Shop, appreciate what Rohdy and others have done to celebrate his brother’s legacy. 

“I’m thankful for the community,” Jim said. “I like seeing everyone come together for him.”

Reifenberg said her mother looks forward to the event every year.

“She’ll sit there and just look at the cars coming and she knows it’s because of Curt and Eddie,” she said. “It just means the world because she feels that love for her son.”