FREIBURGER RACING

Racing family reaches donation milestone in 2022

Story by Bryce Turner

TheFreiburger family started their 2022 season with a familiar objective – to raise money for charity. But unlike other years, the team was on the verge of reaching their original goal.

In 2010, Marvin and Angela Freiburger decided to start donating the race winnings from their Race Team No. 37. With modest expectations for their on-track success, they figured it would be best to pick a charity and donate their entire winnings, with a goal of reaching $100,000.

The couple chose Easter Seals, inspired by the story of Natalie McDonald, a thenten-year-old girl from West Grey Township, whose efforts to support the organization received local attention.

“Natalie McDonald, who is in a wheelchair, was making zipper pulls and doing various other activities to raise money to give to Easter Seals, so other kids like her would have a better life,” said Angela Freiburger. “If she could do all of that for others, we certainly could do that and more.”

Thirteen years later, Marvin in a super stock, his son Ben, in a mini truck, and his grandson Del, in a junior late model, raced their way to that initial goal – the team reaching a grand total of $100,312.83 that’s been donated.

On November 26, just days before Giving Tuesday, the team made its annual donation to Easter Seals, with Angela presenting the cheque to Easter Seals development manager Charlene Myke.

The timing of the donation had an extra impact as Motion, a long-time partner and supporter of Easter Seals, matched donations made to the organization on Giving Tuesday, up to the cost of three adaptive tricycles.

“Our donation, which is being matched by Motion, is going directly to Easter Seals/ Camp Woodeden in London,” said Angela. “At this summer camp, they can experience the freedom, joy and sheer thrill of riding a bike on their own. These bikes will be enjoyed year after year by hundreds of kids at camp. Easter Seals has a 100-year-long legacy of helping kids with physical disabilities be kids and we are happy to give to this cause.”

Easter Seals President and CEO Kevin Collins said that the goal was to raise $10,000 to purchase the three tricycles for the 2023 camping season.

In addition to their support of Easter Seals, Race Team No. 37 has donated to local individuals with serious illness, focusing primarily on children. Those efforts became more of a focus about four years ago, when Del started racing.

“Many individuals over these years have benefited from our race winnings because we give direct to the individual needing the help,” said Angela. “These individuals have used the money for fuel, parking, meals and other fees related to distant hospital visits.”

Keeping the family tradition going strong, 12-year-old Del presents all of the donations to the individuals, while also coming out of his “quiet shell” to speak with the recipients, as well as the crowds at race tracks.

On October 30, Del, joined by a large contingent from the Freiburger family, presented a donation to ten-year-old Tyler Sidle, who had recently been diagnosed with numerous vision disorders and needed to undergo a costly Comprehensive Functional Binocular Vision Assessment.

“If vision therapy is required, his family will also require some financial assistance with these costs,” said Angela. “His optometrist says his vision and symptoms will only get worse with time. This is incredibly hard on the parents.”

On November 13, Del and Angela presented a donation to the Grey/Bruce Falcons special needs hockey team, which will be used for ice time, equipment, away tournaments and other costs. Falcons player Kyle Fortune, who wears a Marvin Freiburger Racing-sponsored jersey, accepted the donation.

“This special hockey foundation promotes an accessible and inclusive hockey experience, to develop individual and team hockey skills, promote a sense of teamwork and, above all else, to have fun,” said Angela.

The Falcons are part of the Grey/Bruce Special Hockey Foundation, a non-profit organization that started in 2008 to provide intellectually challenged athletes from Grey, Bruce and surrounding counties with an opportunity to play hockey, while encouraging sportsmanship and fair play.

Race Team No. 37 says they’re sincerely thankful to the owners of Sauble, Full Throttle, Sunset, Flamboro, Delaware and Peterborough speedways for allowing them to have so much fun raising the money.

With a milestone season in the books for the Freiburger family’s charitable efforts, Angela says there’s a life lesson learned.

“We are faced with a lot of challenges, but children with disabilities and individuals with serious illness have a daily deeper challenge and we are happy that we can and have helped,” she said. IT

OUR 2022 SEASON SPONSORS ON THE #37 SUPER STOCK -MARVIN FREIBURGER THE #37 JUNIOR LATE MODEL -DEL FREIBURGER AND #37 MINI TRUCK - BEN FREIBURGER

1. MARVIN FREIBURGER & SONS INC. - OWNER

2. Blair Buchanan Clan

3. Ross E. Young Bus Lines Ltd - Tiverton

4. Bill & Tom Kempton Cons. Ltd. - Ripley

5. Ann & Garry Gooch - North Carolina U.S.A.

6. Maurice Freiburger - Dayn & Lily

7. Loung Sing Restaurant - Walkerton

8. Summer House Park Ltd.- Miller Lake

9. Norm Paterson Aircraft Maintenance

10. Jim Van Veen - Sharpe Feeds Driver 11. Cuneo Interiors - Walkerton 12. Randall Gordon & Girls 13. Walkerton Meat Market 14. Kelly & Kelly - Barristers & Solicitors - Paisley 15. Marlin Travel - Walkerton 16. Dave Park - Engineer, Southampton

17. Andrew Holdings - Eric & Warren, Lucknow

21. LONDON DRIVE SYSTEMS INC.

Cargill Auction

Schaus

51. Plane Paint - Victor & Anne Dannielli - Paisley

52. Brian Stanley Trucking Ltd. - “Steamer” - Goderich

53. D.A.C. Checker Produce - Walkerton

54. Matcrete Contracting Inc. - Walkerton

55. ORR INSURANCE HURON INC. - Goderich

56. Hallman GM; Shawn Turner - Hanover

57. VERSA BANK; David Taylor - London

58. Chepstow Wing Nights

59. Luxury Woodworking ltd. - Walkerton - Luke Lorenz

60. Brucelea Poultry Farm Ltd. - The Scott’s-Ripley

61. Norman Campbell Construction Limited - Paul Twerton

62. Ronald Fleet - FLEETAIR

63. Pellow Pharmasave - Walkerton

64. Gerry’s Truck Centre Ltd. - Mike Wardoe

65. Paradise Property Maintenance - Walkerton

66. New-life Mills/Fischer Poultry - Hanover

67. 1st Class Capital; Kyle Freiburger - Guelph

68. Top Knotch Upholstery - Walkerton

69. Weber’s Electrical Service Ltd.. - Walkerton

70. Barry Tschirhart - “GO BART” BTKM Associates Inc. - Walkerton

71. Willie’s Electric - Walkerton - Brian & Theresa Dales

72. Lina Masonary Inc. - Elmwood

St.

GROUP INC.- Orangeville

32. Wilson Security Limited, Tom Redford, Nova Scotia

33. JC Welding Brockton/ Mike Hoskins - Walkerton

34. B & L Farm Services Ltd. - Chesley

35. Walkerton Auto Parts

36. Weiler’s Cleaning & Restoration Ltd. -Walkerton

37. Reuber’s Car Care Inc. - Walkerton

38. Skelton Memorials - Walkerton

39. Joy’s Source For Sports - Walkerton

40. LESLIE MOTORS INC. - Walkerton

41. Carson Supply - Port Elgin

42. Wayne’s Electric; Chris Kanters - Hanover

43. RPM-Ryan’s Performance Motorsport - Mildmay

44. Paul D. Colling Trucking - Ripley

45. Lang’s General Contracting Inc. - Walkerton

46. Voisin’s Home Services - Walkerton

47. Donnelly Transport Limited - Pinkerton

48. Gerald D’arcey Construction Limited - Harriston

49. Walkerton Golf & Country Club

50. Baker Tilley CPA; Cory Culbert - Walkerton

73. Bruce County Detailing - Walkerton - Andrew Widdes

74. Super Shine Car & Pet Wash - Walkerton 75. S.E.T.I. - Ecostar Autogreaser - Milton

76. Meulensteen Tire & Auto - Listowel

77. Ken & Lana Baldwin - Paisley

78. TRANSAXLE Parts Inc.; Gary Zwygers - Carnbridge

79. “The Bruder Boys” - Mildmay 80. S. Alexander Trucking & Distributing; Steve & Pat-Paisley

Redford/Freiburger - Walkerton

101. Bill MacDonald - Wellesley

102. Hanover Auto Centre

103. Andy’s Country Repairs - Andy & Jan Schmidt - Walkerton

104. Fountain Tire; The Ashmans - London

105. Struyk Energy Systems; Tyler - Durham

106. Tim Horton’s - Walkerton

107. WEBER CONTRACTING LTD. - Clifford

108. Al Reich’s Backhoeing & Haulage; Al & Cathy - Walkerton

109. Eileen & Don Muegge - Walkerton

110. Maple Hill Farms; Wayne & Wendy McKague - Teeswater

111. Glen Fischer/Parts@ MF&S - Walkerton

112. Potters Mobile Power Wash c/o Ben Potts - Walkerton

113. Sirius Solutions Canada Ltd.; Janine Henning - Kitchener

114. Freiburger Communications; Rod & Rebecca - Tara

115. Caldecott Millwright Services Inc. - Hanover

116. Full Throttle Speedway; Paul Trepanier - Varney

117. Sunbelt Rentals of Canada Inc. - Walkerton

118. CarFab; Chris Ruigrok - Durham

119. Frank & Linda Ruth & Family - Wiarton

120. Ace’s Towing; Paul & Bryce - Mildmay

121. Horne Hardware; Greg & Shelley - Walkerton

122. Pine Echo Campground; Ron & Lori - Belmore

123. Side Street Pizza; Paul & Brenda - Chesley

124. B & B Towing; Sherry & Dwayne Baker - Stayner

125. Time for Change Renov.; Brad McKeeman - Walkerton

126. McColl Racing Enterprises Inc. - London

127. The Battery Pro - Durham

128. Mighton Welding & Mechanic Services: Dan - Hanover

129. Harman Heavey Vehicle Spec.; Ian Johnston - Cambridge

130. HDTV and Electronics; Randy Saunders - Walkerton

131. Spitzig Framing; Ryan - Walkerton

132. The Guest House; Jesse Bates Kids - Walkerton

133. Qwick Wick; Dave Lloyd - Parkhill

134. 519 Table & Pour - Walkerton

135. One Promo/Epic Racewear - Hanover

136. Earl Lippert Trucking Limited; Brian Colling - Ripley

137. Davidson Custom Brokers - Waterloo

138. Just Foam It; Don Tremble; Candue Homes - Durham

139. MEG Computer Services; Mark & Suzie - Hanover

140. Ernewein Farms; Sean, Bert & Steve - Walkerton

141. Team Wilhelm; Pennie & Ron “SMOKER” - Chepstow

142. Edward Fuels - Teeswater, Goderich, Kincardine, Clinton

143. Thom Construction Ltd.; Jason Thom - Owen Sound

144. MEI Paving, Multiple Ent/APC - Hanover & Chesley

145. Dave Spitzig Construction - Walkerton

146. INSIDE TRACK NEWS; David Weber-Brights Grove

147. The Howorth Family & AMI Attachments - New Hamburg Plus: 10 Silent Sponsors