DOWAGIAC — On Thursday night, Dowagiac’s 4th annual Ed’s Open Header, “Cruise for a Cause,” raised $6,080 in donations to benefit Cass County Cancer Services.

Before the fundraiser, Curt Rohdy, the event’s organizer, wanted to break the $20,000 mark in total funds raised for the CCCS.

This year’s cruise did more than just break $20,000, but also had the highest number of registered vehicles compared to past years. About 118 cars out of the 123 that registered participated in the cruise from Cassopolis to downtown Dowagiac. 

“I was shocked to raise that much,” Rohdy said. “Everything went really well. People enjoyed the music and we had a great turnout.”

Next for Rohdy, he will be adding in the donations he received at the Rebel Pride concert, which immediately followed the cruise. The concert, which was presented by the Dowagiac Downtown Development Authority, is part of the Summer Concert Series, which takes place every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on the grounds of the James E. Snow Professional Building at Main and Front Streets in downtown Dowagiac.

The cruise honors the late Ed Kazlauskas every year and gives 100 percent of proceeds to the CCCS.