Community rallies to help Alberta couple battling cancer achieve one last dream

It’s a labour of love Rick Lamanes plans to see out to his final days.

For years, Rick spent his free time working on restoring a 1966 Ford Mustang, from the frame up. His goal was to one day be able to take his wife on a road trip out to Vancouver.

In June, the timeline for that trip suddenly became a lot more urgent.

The 59-year-old was diagnosed with stage 4 colon and liver cancer. He was told the cancer was beyond the scope of treatment and he only had four months to live.

“We don’t concentrate on what lies ahead, we live for today,” Marcy Lamanes, Rick’s wife, said. “We keep our spirits up every day by just carrying on and living as if each day means everything.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We don't concentrate on what lies ahead, we live for today," Marcy Lamanes, Rick's wife, said. "We keep our spirits up every day by just carrying on and living as if each day means everything."

Family, friends, along with the entire community, have stepped up to help the couple’s dream trip become a reality.

“All the TLC we’re getting from everyone, it’s extremely overwhelming, it’s awesome,” Marcy said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "All the TLC we're getting from everyone, it's extremely overwhelming, it's awesome," Marcy said.

A gofundme page has been set up and a bottle drive is being organized this weekend. The couple’s granddaughter is even hosting a bake sale at school to help cover the costs.

They estimate they need about $12,500 to complete all the work that’s required, which includes the interior and wiring.

“My husband actually did every bit of body work that was to be done on the car himself. Over the years, it’s taken him about 13 years,” Marcy said.

Time is of the essence for this couple.

Marcy is battling her own cancer diagnosis. She’s just completed her third round of chemotherapy and is anxiously awaiting her next appointment with her oncologist at the end of the month.

She was initially diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2001. It recently spread to her stomach lining and omentum.

“It will inevitably kill me, there is no cure,” she said.

The couple got a much needed boost on Thursday when Calmar Big Country Paint and Repair returned the Mustang’s sparkle with a fresh coat of Atlantic Pearl Blue.

The car originally belonged to Rick’s eldest brother Wayne who planned to restore it in time to take his wife, who was also battling cancer, on a road trip to the coast.

“By the time everything was ready and they were ready to go on their trip – she succumbed to cancer and died five days later,” Marcy said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "By the time everything was ready and they were ready to go on their trip - she succumbed to cancer and died five days later," Marcy said.

Years later, after losing two brothers to cancer, Rick took on the project.

Now with little time left, Rick is too weak to complete the work.