Sports Car Show Raises Money For Cancer Cure

Photo Vinny DuPre The banner announcing the Cinema Paradiso fundraising event ad the many organizations, including the Queens Gazette, that sponsored the auto-and-motorcycle show.

Long Island City was buzzing on Sunday, July 22, when the owners of dozens of antique and classic sports cars and cycle dealers converged on Cinema Paradiso Restaurant, 36-02 35th Ave., Long Island City, for the restaurant's annual International Sports Car Show, held to help raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Ami's Angels and the New York City Fire Department. The Queens Gazette was among the sponsors of the event.

Cinema Paradiso owner Joe Lupo teamed up with more than 40 clubs, organizations and businesses to raise awareness and money

for leukemia and lymphoma research in conjunction with the Ami's Angels group, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the New York City Fire Department.

Lupo was all smiles as many of his friends and associates lined up their shiny classic and specialty vehicles on the sidewalk in front of his Italian bistro style restaurant, just a stone's throw from Kaufman Astoria Studios, to show off their prize possessions and to help raise money for Ami's Angels and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Marilyn Thuroff, one of the heads of the Ami's Angels team, said that the Cinema Paradiso International Auto Show raised a great deal of money and heightened awareness of leukemia and lymphoma for the hundreds of visitors to the one-day auto and motorcycle classic vehicle showcase. She thanked Lupo, the unofficial mayor of Long Island City, for hosting the fundraiser.

Photos Dan Miller/DMD IMAGES Owners of dozens of antique and classic sports cars and cycle dealers and members of Ami's Angels, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the New York City Fire Department and more than 40 clubs, organizations and businesses gathered at Cinema Paradiso Restaurant to raise money for cancer research.

On hand for the event were volunteers from Ami's Angels, a team of volunteers led by Daryl Thuroff, team captain in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk to help raise needed money for the society. This event invites individuals and teams of walkers to participate by taking a healthy walk in different parts of New York City and raising money through sponsor participation for the society's research and public relations awareness work.

Three Ferrari cars of varying vintages were among those displayed at the Cinema Paradiso Restaurant.

The Ami's Angels group was named for Ami, a beautiful and courageous girl who suffered with leukemia until her death at the age of 30 on Oct. 21, 2002. Her mother, Melinda, is very grateful for the volunteers who contributed to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in the name of her daughter.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society schedules three Light The Night Walk Taking Steps Toward Cures events: in Queens on Saturday, October 13 in Forest Park; in Manhattan on Thursday, October 4 on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge, and in Staten Island on September 29 at the Midland Beach Promenade. Registration for each event begins at 5:30 p.m. and the walks begin at 7 p.m. For more information about making a contribution or to participate in one of the three events, e-mail marilyn01@verizon. net. More information about the Light The Night Walk can be obtained from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Web site at www.lightthenight.org/nyc.- Dan Miller

Photo Dan Miller/DMD IMAGES Members of Ami's Angels and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society manned a table to provide information and help raise funds at the annual International Sports Car Show held at Cinema Paradiso Restaurant, Long island City on June 22.