Ford Broncos and fundraising have gone hand in hand in Gardner every May, and the annual May It Forward event has now raised more than $160,000 for the Travis Mills Foundation.

The event for veterans is organised by Randy Wickman, a member of BONES, Bronco Owners of the Northeast States.

Wickman said when he decided to turn what had already been an annual event into a fundraiser 11 years ago, people got behind the idea. He said about 25 people brought their Broncos in the first year, and now about 100 arrive each year.

“In general, people are very charitable, they’re very giving,” he said. “They just need a vehicle to do it.”

When Wickman was looking for an organisation to support, his buddy, Navy veteran Roger Line, suggested the Travis Mills Foundation.

Retired Army SSgt. Travis Mills lost portions of both arms and legs from an IED while serving in Afghanistan.

Myles Nored, a representative from the foundation, said it provides all-expenses-paid, fully inclusive retreats in Maine to injured veterans and their families.

“They get to stay there, they get to invite their families, and we do a whole bunch of activities to kind of show them that yes, you can still live after these injuries,” Nored said. “You can still do normal things with your family.”

Over the years, the Bronco event has raised more than $160,000 for the foundation.

“People literally walk in, open their wallets and put money in a jar and have the faith in us that we’re going to deliver,” Line said.

The Dill family travelled from Delaware for this year’s event. Caitlyn Dill said she was taught from a young age to support service members.

“It’s wonderful that a community like this, yes, we like cars, but we also give back to the people who gave so much to us,” she said.

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