Matchbox Cars were Jamie Rau’s favorite toy growing up, making him a lifelong car fanatic. On Friday, that passion literally grew in size when Rau took spins in several high-end cars at the Glacier Club.
It was another experience the 33-year-old was able to cross off his bucket list since he was diagnosed nine months ago with stage four carcinoma, a type of cancer that begins in the cells that make up the skin or tissue lining organs, such as the liver or kidneys.
To give Rau an unforgettable day, community members rallied to bring an assortment of high-end vehicles to the Glacier Club, including a Ferrari, Porsche and McLaren.
He called Friday’s event a “surprise of a lifetime.”
“I never thought in my entire lifetime that I’d be able to touch some of these cars, let alone ride in them,” he said.
The Corvette has been Rau’s favorite car since he was 11 years old. On Friday, he rode in two of them.
“The way they made the new Corvette, it looks untouchable. For me to ride in two of them was absolutely awesome,” he said.
The day was a result of a gracious community.
Rau’s father, Bob Rau, works in the member services department at the Glacier Club.
“He’s been quiet about all of this, but once our community found out, everyone wanted to find a way to support him and his family,” said Lindsay Lubrant, director of sales and marketing.
The club enlisted the help of Chris Wiman, who owns a 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, to reach out to the local high-end car owners.
“A lot of people can only dream about riding in some of these cars,” Wiman said. “Most of the time, these owners get pegged as snobby or rude, but the car community is tight-knit group that is so supportive.”
The cost of the vehicles Rau rode in ranged from $60,000 to more than $200,000.
Jason Krueger, who owns a 2016 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, said he did not have to think twice about participating.
“I’m here to help out and be supportive,” he said. “I’d hope these guys would do the same for me. I know they would.”
Jamie Rau’s mother, Sherry Rau, said the community has been “amazingly supportive” of her son since his diagnosis. Besides an afternoon with the cars, Purgatory Resort donated eight nights in a penthouse condominium.
“We are beyond excited,” Sherry Rau said.
Jamie Rau is a single father of four sons, one of whom, 10-year-old Ayden Johnson, he has full custody of.
“Jamie’s last dying wish was for us to take care of his son,” Sherry Rau said.
A GoFundMe account has been created to help the Raus with Jamie’s medical expenses and the cost of raising his son.
mrupani@durangoherald.com
To donate
A GoFundMe account has been established for Jamie Rau. To donate, visit
www.gofundme.com/jamierau
.
