Miami Lakes Cars for Cure scheduled on April 7

In an effort to help increase cancer awareness and raise more money to fight the deadly disease, a local classic car show has landed a major partner.
The 5th Miami Lakes Cars for Cure has teamed up with Hialeah Park Racing and Casino for this year’s event, which includes a concert at the Hialeah park in a prelude to the classic car showcase on Main Street in Miami Lakes.
The concert, which features 1980s and 1990s music legends such as Erotic Exotic, Man Trap, Coro, Angel A-Love and D.J. Santana, is scheduled for 7 p.m., Friday, April 5, at the park’s northeast corner entrance at East 4 Avenue and 22 Street.
Then, more than 250 classic cars will be on display on Main Street, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, April 7, as participants will enjoy live entertainment and food, while honoring Miami Lakes’ first Vice Mayor, Roberto Alonso, who brought the event to the town before he succumbed to cancer.
All the proceeds from the event benefit the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami.
Roberto Alonso Jr., the event’s organizer, said bringing two families and two communities together for a “great” cause is something he envisioned for a long time.
The Graham family developed Miami Lakes and the Brunetti family owns the park and casino.
“It’s great for both communities who are affected by cancer,” he said. “It’s truly amazing when two families and two communities can come together to raise money and awareness for cancer.”
The car show event features entertainment by local country singer Ricky Valido and Man Trap, and Beer Garden’s $20 donation per car.
Alonso said both events will reserve some time to remember those who died of cancer and honor cancer survivors.
“This year, we have special moments to remember people who died of cancer and recognize people who have survived with the concert and car show,” said Alonso, whose wife is a two-time cancer survivor. “Bringing together both communities is great strength in raising cancer awareness. We are encouraging families to come out and enjoy the day, as we continue our fight with cancer.”
Alonso said he’s forever grateful for the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center where doctors treated his father for cancer.
He said doctors at Memorial Hospital told his father to start planning for his funeral because they couldn’t do anything to save his life.
The doctors at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, however, allowed him to live a year and half longer than doctors projected.
“That’s important,” Alonso said. “My father got to travel all over the world and enjoyed life. That was so important to him and my family.”
Since the brith of the event, Alonso said the Miami Lakes Cars for a Cure has raised about $100,000, all of it going to the cancer center.
This year, he’s hoping to raise more money than before.
“The concert hopefully should raise about $50,000,” he said. “There are a lot of talented musicians who will be performing.”
Alonso is also hoping the event helps unite Miami Lakes and Hialeah, as two communities have been divided for years.
“We are all the same people fighting for the same cause.” Alonso said. “A lot of Hialeah residents spend money at Miami Lakes’ restaurants and shops. It doesn’t matter if you are from Miami Lakes, Hialeah or Opa-locka, we are in the same fight against cancer.”