PHOTO STORY: Hundreds attend Dowagiac’s annual Ed’s Open Header Cruise

Published 1:10 pm Friday, July 26, 2024

By Max Harden

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DOWAGIAC — The revving of engines and the screeching of tires could be heard throughout downtown as the eighth annual Ed’s Open Header “Cruise for a Cause” rolled into Dowagiac.

A record number of vehicles participated in this year’s event, with nearly $9,000 raised in total between the procession and a raffle facilitated by Honor Credit Union. 

To date, more than $52,000 in Open Header funds have been raised for Cass County Cancer Service, a volunteer-run organization that provides support for those undergoing cancer treatment, from helping patients pay for gas to get them to and from treatments to rides to doctor’s appointments and more.

“All of the money that is raised stays in Cass County,” said Ray Klomes of the CCCS. “People have to decide if they can go for a treatment or not. So with our help, they’re able to actually put gas in the car and make it for their treatments. We do hospital beds, we do all kinds of stuff but the main thing is the gas cards. Because of people donating to the cancer service, we’re probably able to help two or three hundred people a year and we appreciate it.”

​​The annual event is named in honor of Ed Kazlauskas, who along with event organizer Curt Rodhy, 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.

Open Header participants gathered at Thomas J. Mosier Waterwell Drilling, 21867 M-60 E., Cassopolis before the police escort led the cruise into downtown Dowagiac, where participants and community members gathered along Main Street.

The event coincided with the Dowagiac Summer Concert Series, which this week featured Touch of Texas performing under the Dowagiac District Library Pavilion. The Dowagiac Fire Department also grilled hot dogs and bratwurst for a donation.

Rohdy thanked the Dowagiac Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Department, Jim D’s Body Shop, Hannapel Home Center, First Choice Bank, Imperial Furniture, NAPA-Ridge Auto Parts, the Village of Cassopolis Police Department and True’s Towing and Recovery for supporting the event.

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