Brandon was just 17 and was taken from us too early coming home from his apprenticeship position at 6 pm at night when he was struck head on by a drunk driver and killed. Brandon loved everything to do with driving and vehicles. He loved driving, drifting, mudding and everything in between. He was an amazing young man with plenty of potential and a bright future. In his short 17 years he had already worked for and owned 4 different vehicles. We’re hosting this event as a show and shine, as well as a memorial for Brandon’s life and to raise awareness about the way he was killed. He had a thirst and passion for the car community, his family, and friends, and a love of mechanics. His dream was to open a performance shop called *Cross Piston Performance*. He wouldn’t miss this for the world, so please come out and show your support!!!
If you would like to view the complete journey of Brandon and his family through their heartbreaking journey of the crash and the court system please see Facebook RIP Brandon Thomas.
We are proud to be able to support other organizations and charities yearly with the funds raised from our Show Your Ride for Brandon event. Over the past 6 years we have raised roughly $80,000 and have given to organizations such as MADD Canada, Sait, Cochrane High and various other causes.
With the support of our partners and attendants we are able to continue to raise awareness, offer resources and help to reduce the number of impaired drivers and victims.
We appreciate and value everyone who is part of this event in any way.
Thank you for your continued support
MEET BRANDON
Brandon Stanley Walter Thomas, was born on October 8, 1995 in Fort MacLeod, Alberta. He was 5 weeks early and very very tiny, so eager to enter this world and start his life. Brandon was sick as a baby and child, with the undiagnosed Celiac disease (which was finally diagnosed at age 10), when Brandon wasn't sick he was a typical little boy, his sister, Kayla, taught him to ride a tricycle, and from there it only got better. He loved racing down the sidewalk on his bike with his long curly hair flying out from his helmet and the pure joy in his laughter would cause many to stop and smile. He was kind, generous and had a huge heart.
When Brandon was 3 his parents separated on good terms and both parents continued a wonderful relationship with Brandon and his sister. Brandon, his sister and his mom moved from Fort MacLeod to Whitecourt.
About a year later when Brandon was in grade 3 his family moved again and made their permanent home in Cochrane, Alberta. Where they still live today. It is an amazing community to raise children and have children grow up. Upon moving to Cochrane the family moved in a couple doors down from a backyard mechanic. I (Brandon's mom) would watch as he would ride his bike around the cul-de-sac, at first slowly and cautiously speaking to the neighbor from the sidewalk, then as the weeks went on, his bike would be parked on the driveway, then finally Brandon was brave and felt welcomed enough to enter the garage where his love of mechanics was born. Our neighbor patiently and lovingly taught Brandon so much and gave Brandon his dream for his future. Brandon spent many many hours in that garage and at pick n pull.
Brandon's body finally managed to grow as big as his heart and he treated everyone with kindness and respect. Often he was the first person to approach the *new kid* and make friends. He also often advocated for those being bullied by walking in the hallways with them or walking them home. Brandon had countless friends, all ages and all groups. One of his friends said when they thought of Brandon the word they used was *unity*. Thus our promotion of unity at Show Your Ride for Brandon. Brandon had a way of making everyone smile. Could light up a room or a building with his crooked smile and twinkling green eyes and his silliness. He also had a way of making time for everyone and letting everyone know how important they were to him. He was a loyal and true friend. He had many friends and kept them all. After Brandon was killed one of his friends said Brandon was truly great, when asked what Brandon did that was so great...die? His friend replied, no it was the way he lived.
Brandon and Kayla shared a bond unlike any other siblings. They were the best of friends and could always be found together. When younger Brandon thought Kayla was the most beautiful girl in the world, and as he grew that never changed. Kayla never minded her lil big bro tagging after her, and as they both got older, he never minded her tagging after him. She would call Brandon to fix everything for her, from her broken heart to her truck. And he always could. She always knew he was the one man who would never leave her. Today she says he didn't leave her, he was taken from her. She asked him to walk her down the aisle when she married some day. He proudly and excitedly said he would. Sadly, he will have to be there in spirit and in our hearts only now.
Brandon loved children and animals. We had to quit going to the Humane Society because Brandon's eyes would fill with tears every time we left all the animals behind. His love and patience for children always amazed me. I ran a day home and often I would find him on the floor playing cars with the boy, play dough, and yes even dolls with the girls. I knew he would make an amazing father.
Brandon started his first job at age 13 in the summer and worked all summer to save enough money to buy his first vehicle, a Toyota 4runner. By the end of the summer, still at age 13, he had his first vehicle. He was never without a job from that point on, always in the mechanical field, and by the time he had turned 17 had already owned 4 vehicles he had bought and paid for himself. His 4runner, a BMW, a Jeep and his dream car a Subaru impreza wrx sti.
Brandon spoke often about the dream of opening his own Performance Shop called *Cross Piston Performance* after he finished attending SAIT and becoming a mechanic. His sister and him proudly share a tattoo of cross pistons on their backs. I know he would have made this dream come true. Brandon also loved mudding, drifting, driving and anything to do with vehicles. He was so excited to become a part of the *car family*.
In school Brandon was in the registered apprenticeship program. He took his core courses in the morning and worked in the mechanical field for credits and wages in the afternoon. He secured a job with a family oriented company and he soon felt and became part of their family as well. He loved this position so much. His boss loved Brandon and his dedication, commitment and knowledge. He often said Brandon worked harder than any other 25 year old they hired.This position was in Calgary, Alberta, about an hour from Brandon's home.
On December 6th, 2012 Brandon called me, as he did every night, before he left work to let me know he had a great day and was on his way home. I told him the same thing I told him every night. "I love you Brandon, drive safe". And he replied with the same answer he gave me every night. "I love you to mom, I always drive safe". Those were the last words I heard Brandon say. At 6 pm at night, just 5 kilometers from our home on highway 22 Brandon was struck head on by a drunk driver who was travelling on the wrong side of the highway, and had already hit two other vehicles prior to hitting Brandon. Brandon was trapped in his mangled car and died an hour later at the scene before they could free him from the wreckage. Brandon had just turned 17 years old and had a full amazing life ahead of him with so much promise. If you would like to view the details of the crash, the photos of his car, and our journey through the courts and the outcome for the drunk driver, please see the facebook page RIP Brandon Thomas.
This event honors Brandon, the way he lived his life and the way he dreamed his future would be, and the coming together of a community and family that he was so excited to become a part of. It brings all rides and ages and clubs, teams and individuals together....UNITY. This event honors Brandon's life, but also raises awareness of the way he was killed. It reminds us all of the innocent lives lost and the devastation and ripple effect to those left behind. This event also hosts a petition started and advocated by a group named Families For Justice, a group of parents and loved ones who have lost children and family members to drunk drivers, this petition calls for minimum mandatory sentencing for anyone convicted of impaired driving causing bodily injury or worse death. Help us raise awareness and honor a young amazing life taken too soon by a 100% preventable choice and crime.
Please join us for the upcoming Show Your Ride for Brandon event. Information on how to become involved in this important message and event can be found on Sponsor Our Event. Please see all other pages for the previous years event and check back often. We have launched our new and exciting page for Show Your Ride for Brandon 2017.
Thank you <3
When Brandon was 3 his parents separated on good terms and both parents continued a wonderful relationship with Brandon and his sister. Brandon, his sister and his mom moved from Fort MacLeod to Whitecourt.
About a year later when Brandon was in grade 3 his family moved again and made their permanent home in Cochrane, Alberta. Where they still live today. It is an amazing community to raise children and have children grow up. Upon moving to Cochrane the family moved in a couple doors down from a backyard mechanic. I (Brandon's mom) would watch as he would ride his bike around the cul-de-sac, at first slowly and cautiously speaking to the neighbor from the sidewalk, then as the weeks went on, his bike would be parked on the driveway, then finally Brandon was brave and felt welcomed enough to enter the garage where his love of mechanics was born. Our neighbor patiently and lovingly taught Brandon so much and gave Brandon his dream for his future. Brandon spent many many hours in that garage and at pick n pull.
Brandon's body finally managed to grow as big as his heart and he treated everyone with kindness and respect. Often he was the first person to approach the *new kid* and make friends. He also often advocated for those being bullied by walking in the hallways with them or walking them home. Brandon had countless friends, all ages and all groups. One of his friends said when they thought of Brandon the word they used was *unity*. Thus our promotion of unity at Show Your Ride for Brandon. Brandon had a way of making everyone smile. Could light up a room or a building with his crooked smile and twinkling green eyes and his silliness. He also had a way of making time for everyone and letting everyone know how important they were to him. He was a loyal and true friend. He had many friends and kept them all. After Brandon was killed one of his friends said Brandon was truly great, when asked what Brandon did that was so great...die? His friend replied, no it was the way he lived.
Brandon and Kayla shared a bond unlike any other siblings. They were the best of friends and could always be found together. When younger Brandon thought Kayla was the most beautiful girl in the world, and as he grew that never changed. Kayla never minded her lil big bro tagging after her, and as they both got older, he never minded her tagging after him. She would call Brandon to fix everything for her, from her broken heart to her truck. And he always could. She always knew he was the one man who would never leave her. Today she says he didn't leave her, he was taken from her. She asked him to walk her down the aisle when she married some day. He proudly and excitedly said he would. Sadly, he will have to be there in spirit and in our hearts only now.
Brandon loved children and animals. We had to quit going to the Humane Society because Brandon's eyes would fill with tears every time we left all the animals behind. His love and patience for children always amazed me. I ran a day home and often I would find him on the floor playing cars with the boy, play dough, and yes even dolls with the girls. I knew he would make an amazing father.
Brandon started his first job at age 13 in the summer and worked all summer to save enough money to buy his first vehicle, a Toyota 4runner. By the end of the summer, still at age 13, he had his first vehicle. He was never without a job from that point on, always in the mechanical field, and by the time he had turned 17 had already owned 4 vehicles he had bought and paid for himself. His 4runner, a BMW, a Jeep and his dream car a Subaru impreza wrx sti.
Brandon spoke often about the dream of opening his own Performance Shop called *Cross Piston Performance* after he finished attending SAIT and becoming a mechanic. His sister and him proudly share a tattoo of cross pistons on their backs. I know he would have made this dream come true. Brandon also loved mudding, drifting, driving and anything to do with vehicles. He was so excited to become a part of the *car family*.
In school Brandon was in the registered apprenticeship program. He took his core courses in the morning and worked in the mechanical field for credits and wages in the afternoon. He secured a job with a family oriented company and he soon felt and became part of their family as well. He loved this position so much. His boss loved Brandon and his dedication, commitment and knowledge. He often said Brandon worked harder than any other 25 year old they hired.This position was in Calgary, Alberta, about an hour from Brandon's home.
On December 6th, 2012 Brandon called me, as he did every night, before he left work to let me know he had a great day and was on his way home. I told him the same thing I told him every night. "I love you Brandon, drive safe". And he replied with the same answer he gave me every night. "I love you to mom, I always drive safe". Those were the last words I heard Brandon say. At 6 pm at night, just 5 kilometers from our home on highway 22 Brandon was struck head on by a drunk driver who was travelling on the wrong side of the highway, and had already hit two other vehicles prior to hitting Brandon. Brandon was trapped in his mangled car and died an hour later at the scene before they could free him from the wreckage. Brandon had just turned 17 years old and had a full amazing life ahead of him with so much promise. If you would like to view the details of the crash, the photos of his car, and our journey through the courts and the outcome for the drunk driver, please see the facebook page RIP Brandon Thomas.
This event honors Brandon, the way he lived his life and the way he dreamed his future would be, and the coming together of a community and family that he was so excited to become a part of. It brings all rides and ages and clubs, teams and individuals together....UNITY. This event honors Brandon's life, but also raises awareness of the way he was killed. It reminds us all of the innocent lives lost and the devastation and ripple effect to those left behind. This event also hosts a petition started and advocated by a group named Families For Justice, a group of parents and loved ones who have lost children and family members to drunk drivers, this petition calls for minimum mandatory sentencing for anyone convicted of impaired driving causing bodily injury or worse death. Help us raise awareness and honor a young amazing life taken too soon by a 100% preventable choice and crime.
Please join us for the upcoming Show Your Ride for Brandon event. Information on how to become involved in this important message and event can be found on Sponsor Our Event. Please see all other pages for the previous years event and check back often. We have launched our new and exciting page for Show Your Ride for Brandon 2017.
Thank you <3