Paul Paulson remembers Amy Clifford with a happy face, having fun and enjoying last June’s Classic Car Show at Sloatsburg Community Field that was put on for her benefit.
“At the car show she was as happy as a kid should be, with a smile on her face and BBQ sauce all over,” said Paulson, Quartermaster for the Sloatsburg Volunteer Fire Department, which staged the fundraiser along with East Coast Rod & Custom.
“She had a great time,” he said.
Shortly after the Car Show, the Sloatsburg Fire Department hosted Clifford — a Suffern High School student diagnosed with a rare cancer back in 2011 — at the Fire House for a pizza party attended by the Clifford family, SFD members and members of the Sloatsburg Ambulance Corp, as well as several Ramapo Police Officers. The Car Show raised some $3,800 and every dollar went to the Clifford family to help out Amy.
And then on a Friday in mid August, Amy Clifford was taken back to Memorial Sloan-Kettering hospital, where the fight in her, the buoyant Fight Like A Girl spirit, began to fade over the weekend, and she passed on in the early hours of Monday, August 13, 2012, at just 16 yrs-old.
“At least we gave her a few good months before the end of her life,” said Paulson in a low voice. The spirit of Amy has stayed with the Sloatsburg Fire Department and inspired Paulson, now vice president of East Coast Rod & Custom, to continue with the Car Show as a fundraiser for someone in need.
This year’s 2nd Annual Classic Car Show will benefit Sloatsburg firefighter Sean Connell, who himself is fighting a form of cancer that is currently in remission, which has allowed Connell to return to work and a semi-normal life. All proceeds from the event will go toward Connell’s healthcare costs. The Car Show takes place Saturday, June 1, from 10 a.m. 4 p.m., at Sloatsburg Community Field.
A self-described custom classic car cowboy who likes to fix things, Paulson said the Clifford family will attend this year’s show and award the best in show trophy to the car they think Amy would have liked best. The award will be called the Amy Trophy for Best In Show.
Sean Connell will also pick a show car that he likes best, awarding it a trophy. In all, Paulson said there will be 28 car trophies awarded. The first 100 people to come to the Car Show Saturday will also receive a gift bag. Spectator tickets cost just $5 per person or for a car of up to four people.
Every spectator who goes to the show will get a ticket that will put them in a drawing to be one of 5 spectator judges who will decide winners in the rib contest. Sloatsburg Village Trustee Tom Buckley will help run the rib tasting and track each of the judges scores. The guys from TellYouWhatBBQ.com, a local group of serious weekend grill chefs, will again be vying for the top BBQ rib prize. The BBQ challenge calls for all cooking to be done onsite.
Amy Clifford Remembered
Two weeks ago, the Suffern High School Class of 2014 held a brick ceremony at the school’s amphitheater to memorialize Amy Clifford.
Classmates and friends turned out in “I [heart] Amy” t-shirts and pink and green for the after school ceremony. Amy’s parents were presented with a replica of the commemorative brick that has been installed in Amy’s name.
Class of 2014 advisor and teacher Amy MacKenzie read a poem written by student Rebecca Williams and spoke a few words. “I was lucky enough to know Amy and her family as I was her English teacher and tutor when she fell ill,” MacKenzie reflected.
“She demonstrated an unbelievable amount of courage and conducted herself with great dignity. She inspired us all and shall never be forgotten.”
The 2nd Annual Classic Car Show takes place Saturday, June 1, from 10 a.m. 4 p.m., at Sloatsburg Community Field, Sloatsburg, NY and is presented by the Sloatsburg Volunteer Fire Department and East Coast Rod and Custom. Vendors spots cost $25. Registration fee per car show vehicle is $20 (all vehicles and motorcycles welcome/all years and models). Spectators pay $5 (including cars of 4 people or less). Note: The rain date for the event is the following Saturday, June 8.
Photo credits: Brick ceremony information and original photo of Amy Clifford courtesy of Ramapo Central Schools as is the photo of students and family members attending the May 20 brick ceremony held by the Class of 2014. BBQ photos courtesy of TellYouWhatBBQ.com.
