Gerry McAdam would have graduated this year. His memory lives on through his friends and their projects, such as Chateauguay Valley Regional graduate Nathaniel Coallier, who dedicated his demolition derby car to Gerry. Coallier said he was inspired by how Gerry gave his Make-A-Wish funds to benefit the people of his community by building a firefighter training facility.
The derby car project was the result of hard work and dedication, from the vehicle maintenance to the paint job – which was done by Gerry’s friends from school who helped paint his name boldly on the car.
At Expo Ormstown, derby day was stressful, Coallier said. Before pulling into the ring, he took a moment to pray for his safety, and to continue Gerry’s legacy.
Coallier won and was able to wave the checkered flag standing atop “Gerry’s car.” He admitted afterward that he was still coming down from the high of winning, the feeling of driving onto the racetrack, and seeing how the story spread to those in the stands as they listened to the announcer.
It was his first win in the name of a friend, and it raised $4,100 for Gerry’s Wish.