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Lakewood Today
By the People, for the People
Granddaughter surprises 80-year-old cancer patient with classic car parade
Dozens of vintage car owners joined the heartwarming parade to lift the spirits of the ailing car enthusiast.
Published on Feb. 24, 2026
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An 80-year-old Colorado man diagnosed with terminal cancer received a heartwarming surprise when his granddaughter organized a classic car parade past his home. Dozens of vintage car owners, some who had never met the man before, lined up to slowly drive by and honk their horns, lifting the spirits of the ailing car enthusiast who could no longer attend the shows he once enjoyed.
Why it matters
The story highlights the power of community and the impact a simple gesture can have on someone facing a difficult health challenge. It showcases how a granddaughter's thoughtful idea to bring together classic car owners brought joy and lifted the spirits of her elderly grandfather during a trying time.
The details
Max Archuleta's granddaughter, Annaliesse Garcia, posted on social media asking for a handful of classic car owners to drive by her grandfather's Lakewood, Colorado home. But the response far exceeded her expectations, as dozens of drivers from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s showed up to slowly cruise past Archuleta's home, waving and honking their horns. Many of the drivers, like Butch Souza and Bruce Santry, had never met Archuleta before but were eager to participate and bring a smile to his face.
- The classic car parade took place on Sunday afternoon.
The players
Max Archuleta
An 80-year-old Colorado man diagnosed with terminal cancer and a lifelong fan of vintage vehicles.
Annaliesse Garcia
Archuleta's granddaughter who organized the classic car parade to lift his spirits.
Butch Souza
A classic car owner who participated in the parade and taped a poster of Archuleta to his 1951 Ford Shoebox.
Bruce Santry
A classic car owner who joined the parade with the goal of making Archuleta smile.
What they’re saying
“I had seen him at a show last summer. He looked familiar. And I was like, you know, that's something that you do for your community.”
— Butch Souza (wgntv.com)
“Hopefully, we'll get a couple of nice cars out here and make him smile. That's all this is for.”
— Bruce Santry (wgntv.com)
“It's going to be something that our family is going to be able to keep with them forever.”
— Annaliesse Garcia, Archuleta's granddaughter (wgntv.com)
“I couldn't believe everybody. Just all this for me.”
— Max Archuleta (wgntv.com)
The takeaway
This heartwarming story demonstrates the power of community and the impact a simple gesture can have on someone facing a difficult health challenge. The thoughtful idea of a granddaughter to bring together classic car owners brought joy and lifted the spirits of her elderly grandfather, showing the profound difference small acts of kindness can make during trying times.
