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Piney Auto to hold fund-raiser for local Relay For Life team

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ANDREA GALABINSKI Owner and team coordinator Keith Toomey of Piney Road Auto Repair is holding a Relay for Life Team fund-raiser.

Keith Toomey, owner of Piney Road Auto Repair, is holding a fund-raiser to benefit his Relay For Life team at his business Saturday, March 14. There will be a car wash and garage sale that day, and he said he hopes community members will donate items for the sale as well as attending the event.

The goal is to raise money for his family’s own Relay For Life Team, to benefit the American Cancer Association.

“This is Piney Road Auto’s first year participating in Relay,” said Beth Hayes of the American Society. “They are very enthusiastic, and really wanted to be a valuable team in the North Fort Myers Community.”

Toomey and his wife, Tracy, a teacher at North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts, are long-time supporters of the community.

“My wife and I always donate to charities around the holidays, but we thought we’d do something bigger this year,” Toomey said. “We wanted to do something bigger and more community-oriented and the relay itself has gotten bigger this year. Another reason we chose this event is because my sister is a breast cancer survivor, and my father had cancer.”

He said he has had a lot of local family and friend support to build his team, both in Cape Coral and North Fort Myers. He lives in the Cape and has worked in North Fort Myers for the last seven years.

His wife teaches 9th grade at the academy and has taught at the school for nine years and she has a lot of community support as well.

“We already have 16 people committed to our team,” he said.

Toomey’s auto repair business is located at 1250 Piney Rd.

“People know me here,” he said.

Toomey branched out into his own business in North Fort Myers after working many years for another company in the area. He’s a Master Auto Tech, and promises great service at a fair price on auto works.

His shop will be the spot for a fund-raising car wash and garage sale on Saturday, March 15, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. He is now looking for donations for the garage sale.

“Anything, really,” he said. “I’ve already had some donations, different things like golf clubs and household items.”

The relay event itself is Saturday, April 25

“We are having it behind the Walmart on Pine Island Road, starting at 6 p.m.,” said Hayes. “It’s an 18-hour event. On relay night, participants pitch tents and decorate their campsite in this year’s theme ‘Relay Around the World.’ Then for 18 hours, they enjoy entertainment, games, music, great food, camaraderie and tons of fun.

“What the relay actually benefits is our best opportunity for expanding cancer control, advocacy, volunteerism and fund-raising.”

On his business, Toomey said, “I opened this shop on Sept. 1, 2008. I’ve been working on cars since I’ve been 16, and have over 30 years experience at various dealerships. People have been telling me for years I should open my own business. I do a lot of everything, but specialize in driveability.”

He said that can be anything from a thumping noise to a misfiring engine.

Toomey said he choose North Fort Myers because of working here for many years.

“My wife also works here, and I like the area,” he said.

In his spare time, he said he likes visiting different restaurants with his wife and seeing movies. They have three daughters, including twins, so family comes first.

Concerning the event, he said his team will have an Irish theme.

“I really want the people of North Fort Myers to get excited about relay,” he said. “The more people that come out and get involved, the better the event will be.”

For more information on the relay, call the American Cancer Society at 936-1113, extension 113, or go to the Web site relayforlife.org\northfortmyersfl.

For information on the Piney Road Auto Repair fund-raiser or to make a donation, call Tomboy at 995-2737. His business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays.