Athens BMW recently donated $1,000 to the Loran Smith Center for Cancer Support through its BMW Drive for a Cause Test Drive event, which took place in June.

In the BMW Drive for a Cause Test Drive event, community members were invited to test drive BMW vehicles to help raise money for the Loran Smith Center, which provides free services and programs, such as yoga, nutrition classes, therapies and counseling for anyone affected by cancer at any phase in the cancer journey – regardless of where an individual receives his or her cancer treatment. The center is funded through the Piedmont Athens Regional Foundation. Piedmont Healthcare is a private, nonprofit system of community hospitals.

“This event was a great opportunity to contribute to an important cause,” said Jeff Socha, general manager at Athens BMW. “For every BMW test drive completed during the BMW Drive for a Cause Test Drive event, Athens BMW donated $20 towards the Loran Smith Center to help provide free cancer support services for the Athens-area community.”

Athens BMW ended up with 38 test drives, amounting in $760 raised; however, the team didn’t stop there. They decided to provide the Loran Smith Center with an additional $240 – bringing their total donation to $1,000.

“The many services that the Loran Smith Center provides to cancer patients and survivors in our community are free and open to anyone,” said Joel Siebentritt, manager of cancer support services at Piedmont Athens Regional’s Loran Smith Center. “Donation events like the BMW Drive for a Cause Test Drive event enable us to continue to provide these free services for our patients.”  

In addition to raising funds for the Loran Smith Center, BMW Drive for a Cause Test Drive event participants received a $1,000 incentive credit towards the purchase of a new BMW vehicle.