Guinness World record holder CARSTAR adds "a splash of magic" to Soaps It Up
events on June 12

National charity car wash raises funds for cystic fibrosis

HAMILTON, ON, June 8 /CNW/ - On Saturday, June 12, 2010, CARSTAR Collision Centres in Canada and local volunteers will pull out all the tricks to make vehicles sparkle at the seventh annual Soaps It Up for Cystic Fibrosis National Car Wash day. Volunteers will be on hand ready to soap up and sponge down cars at 70 events nationwide to raise funds for charity. This year CARSTAR Canada aims to wash more than 5,000 cars nationally and raise more than $115,000 for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF) and local fundraising groups across the country.

"We achieved tremendous fundraising success with last year's Guinness world record-setting event and CARSTAR is taking the momentum into our seventh national charity car wash," said Sam Mercanti, President and CEO of CARSTAR Automotive Canada Inc. "This year's Soaps It Up event theme is all about adding a splash of magic and there are many reasons why it fits our event so perfectly. Our franchisees have worked tirelessly, and we have received so much support from local volunteers and communities over the years, helping us to raise over $1.7 million towards finding a cure for cystic fibrosis, which is nothing short of magic."

In keeping with this year's theme, CARSTAR has enlisted Canada's Premiere Event Illusionist Brian Michaels as spokesperson for the National Charity event. Michaels has cystic fibrosis and is encouraged by all the community support behind making this fundraiser a reality in so many locations across the country each year. "Thanks to events like Soaps It Up, I've been able to live with CF for over thirty years, and pursue my dream to become an illusionist, performing all over Canada and the world," says Michaels. "The funds raised have supported significant research advances and will continue to aid our ultimate goal of finding a cure for the disease."

Cystic fibrosis is the most common, fatal genetic disease affecting Canadian children and young adults. A devastating disease, cystic fibrosis attacks primarily the lungs and the digestive system and requires a daily regime of intensive physical therapy and medications. There is no cure. There are approximately 3,500 people across Canada living with cystic fibrosis.

CARSTAR has been a proud supporter of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation since learning that a granddaughter of a franchisee was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. In the last ten years, more than $1.7 million has been raised by CARSTAR Collision Repair Centres to help find a cure.

Fresh off last year's inaugural American Soaps It Up day, CARSTAR locations in the United States are participating for the second consecutive year. "We are looking forward to working with CARSTAR U.S. again on Soaps It Up this coming June 12," said Mercanti.

Tickets for CARSTAR Soaps It Up are a minimum of $5 and are available at participating CARSTAR locations across the country or at www.carstar.ca.

Over 70 car wash events are taking place across the country on June 12:

    
    -   Eastern Canada: car washes are being held in Atlantic Canada in
        Dartmouth, Elmsdale, New Minas, Sydney, Charlottetown, Summerside and
        St. John's
    -   Quebec and Ontario: the greatest number of car wash events are taking
        place in these provinces including in the Greater Toronto Area,
        Hamilton-Niagara regions, Ajax, Oakville, Guelph, Pickering,
        Mississauga, North Bay, Sudbury, London, Tilbury and Jonquière
    -   Western Canada: car wash events are spread across the Prairies and
        B.C. in the following cities: Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton,
        Red Deer, Lethbridge, Richmond, Coquitlam and Kelowna
    

Sponsors for CARSTAR Soaps It Up include: BASF; Quiznos; Nolitours; King Rose Travel; The DAC Group; Domino's Pizza Canada and AIR MILES(R).

About CARSTAR Automotive Canada Inc.

CARSTAR is the fastest growing automotive repair franchise network with over 400 locations in North America. Founded in Hamilton, Ontario in 1995, CARSTAR Automotive Canada Inc. has grown from eight to over 140 locations throughout 10 provinces. Within Canada, CARSTAR repairs approximately 100,000 vehicles per year with the highest rate of customer satisfaction. Through a variety of fundraising initiatives, CARSTAR, its franchisees, partners and employees have raised over $1.7 million for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. For more information, please visit www.carstar.ca

For further information: Michele Enhaynes, PraxisPR, [phone] ext. 229, [email protected]; OR Matt Juniper, PraxisPR, [phone] ext. 225, [email protected]; OR Sharon Welch, CARSTAR Automotive Canada, 1-800-665-2264 ext. 290, [email protected]