COMMUNITY OUTREACH
The communities of Gray and Jones County have an opportunity on the horizon to help one of their own with her battle against Stage 4 lung cancer.
The Cars and Cures Middle Georgia Car Show will take place Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Jones County Lions Club, located at 399 Highway 18 East. All proceeds from the car show will go toward the medical expenses for Sue Stanfield.
The Cars and Cures Car Show is the effort of Sgt. Chris Baker with the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, who wants to do what he can to help others.
Baker said the car show will include local vendors, food trucks, music, raffles and an opportunity for family fun. Trophies and certificates will be awarded for numerous categories, including Best in Show, Best Classic Muscle, Best Import, Best Classic Truck, Best Custom, Most Unique and many more.
“I would also like to add that this event is not only for car enthusiasts. We have food trucks, raffles, and almost 20 vendors selling various things,” he said.
The sergeant said two of those vendors are non-profit organizations for autism awareness, which he also strongly supports due to both his father and uncle working with Special Olympics.
The fee to enter the show is $20, and spectators at the event are free. More information about the car show can be found on the Cars and Cures Facebook page.
Baker started working at the JSCO in 2018.
“I was looking for a career that would allow me to help people and make a difference in people’s lives,” he said.
Although the sergeant works in Jones County, he does not currently live here. He said after his recent marriage, he plans to change that.
Baker said he has always loved cars and trucks, which he credits to his grandfathers and uncles. He said they really got him interested in the automotive world.
Baker, when his best friend was diagnosed with a rare disease that attacked his kidneys a few years ago, he was inspired to come up with a way to help. He said that’s how Cars and Cures came to be.
“We had our first car show in July of this year and were able to raise $12,000 to help with his medical bills and money to save for after his transplant,” the sergeant said.
He said, after seeing the impact of that single day and the emotional impact, it brought him and his best friend, he knew there would be more car shows.
Baker said he began working with Sue Stanfield’s son Matthew at the sheriff’s office about a year ago. He said Matthew has years of public service experience, working in corrections, rescue and volunteer firefighting as well as being an auxiliary deputy at the sheriff’s office.
He said about a month ago, Matthew told him that his mother Sue had been diagnosed with Adencarcinoma, stagethree cancer in her left lung. He said they later found out they cannot operate and remove this cancer due to it being so close to her heart.
“I also know that the past few years have been a troubling and difficult time for Sue, losing her husband, Grady Sr., last year and her special needs son Grady Jr the year prior,” he said.
Baker said he really does love Jones County and how close everyone is. He said that first show was featured on the news and plastered all over social media and plenty of people reached out for him to have another car show.
“I believe we have found the perfect location to come together and make a difference for Sue,” he said.
The sergeant said he recently found out Sue’s cancer has now been upgraded to Stage 4.
Baker said he wants anyone who is not familiar with Cars and Cures to know that every penny of the show’s receipts goes to the designated recipient to help with the cost of their medical expenses and needs.
