Just days before the event, Kim Thomas was worried everything was going too smoothly and was waiting for something to go wrong.

It never did.

The 5th Annual Show Your Ride for Brandon Thomas on Aug. 26 was another success and the extra space and atmosphere at the Calgary Stampede Park was well received.

By the end, over 740 vehicles registered for the event and Thomas says they had one of the highest, if not the highest, amount of foot traffic since the event’s inception.

“It was really stress-free, it was easy going and the crowd was friendly,” says Thomas. “It was just a great event from the start to the end. It was wonderful.”

The added space of the two large parking lots gave ample room for participants and for the many activities planned for the day. Zeebs’ Battle of the Techs returned as did the crane lifts offered by McIntyre Crane and Lifting that hoisted people 167 ft. into the air to get a bird’s eye view of the Calgary skyline. There were kids events, including the annual parade, an RC competition, Hollywood-themed volunteers and car crews, food trucks and plenty of background music. Old friends were reacquainted and new friendships made.

Still, it’s tough emotionally for Thomas, who lost her son Brandon to an impaired driver on Dec. 6, 2012. Since then, she and her daughter Kayla have been advocating for tougher sentences for convicted impaired drivers and have been encouraging people to refrain from drinking and driving.

“It’s a really hard emotion because you go from the overwhelming gratitude to the heart-breaking loss in a matter of seconds,” says Thomas.

But Thomas strongly believes in the underlining message the event sends.

The mood becomes somber when the rev off is held in memory of Brandon and balloons are passed out for a balloon launch.

“A lot of people share in the tears and they share in the emotions and they try to put themselves in that position, whether it’s a parent or a sibling, or just being maybe the one who makes that decision that devastates somebody else.”

“I’m pretty emotion during the balloon release, for sure, but I look at the video, too, and even when we’re speaking I look at the faces of the people and I know that they get it, that they’re listening and that’s one of the best gifts we can ever receive is knowing that the people are listening to the message and that they’re remembering Brandon.”

Vehicle numbers are slightly down from last year. Organizers had anticipated in excess of 1,000 vehicles but the lower numbers are believed to be connected to the smoky conditions and forecasted rain that never did come. In fact, the sun even poked through the clouds on occasion. 

“We had nothing but positive feedback from our sponsors and all of the people who attended. It was amazing. It’s down a little bit down from last year but I’m not disappointed at all.”

Proceeds go to a number of causes, including SAIT and Cochrane High School scholarships, the Show Your Ride for Brandon Victims Fund and special causes selected each year, like MADD and registered charities for Enny Autism and Mito Disease. In the first four years over $50,000 was raised. Numbers are currently being tallied from this year's event.

Show Your Ride is held annually on the last Sunday before the Labour Day Weekend.