RENFREW - Beachburg racer Nathan Blok was showing a special car at the fair grounds in Renfrew during the Prostate Cancer Car Show fundraiser.

He was showing the Formula 1600 race care owned and driven by the now-retired Major General Lewis MacKenzie, who used to head up the Canadian Armed Forces. Gen. MacKenzie drove this car to championships in the B class in 2007 and 2008.

Gen. MacKenzie was not able to show the car himself because he was participating in the second annual army run in Ottawa, which was held this past weekend.

Since Nathan's car wasn't available for the show, Gen. MacKenzie offered his car, since supporting the fund-raiser is important to him as a survivor of prostate cancer. The two are teammates with Mortimer Racing out of Ottawa. However, Nathan is in A class while Gen. MacKenzie is in the B Class.

Next year will be Nathan's first season racing in a car and not a go-kart.

"Last season (just passed) was a transition year for Nathan", his mom Sandra said.

For one weekend, he raced cars at Calabogie and enjoyed is so much, has decided to move up to that category from go-karts.

He will be driving a 1997 Van Dieman in the Formula 1600 races, which is similar to Gen. MacKenzie's 1991 car.

"He'll exceed 200 kilometres an hour", his mom said.

For anyone interested in checking out Formula 1600 race cars, Nathan will be participating in a lap day at Calabogie on September 29 all day, from 5 to 7 pm that day, he will be driving his own car, the 1997 Van Dieman.

The fund raiser was organized by the Renfrew chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society, of which Ray Beimers is president. At a meeting a few years ago, a female member said there are always fund raisers for breast cancer, which is important, but there should also be fund raisers for other cancers, and prostate cancer was the chosen one. he said.

Since this is mostly a male cancer, it was decided a car show was the best avenue. For those who want to show a car, the cost os $5 and there are also donation jars set up throughout the grounds as well, he said.

In five years, the annual care show has raised about $5,000, Mr. Beimers siad.

This fund raiser is close to his heart because he lost his father to prostate cancer 14 years ago, his father-in-law is currently battling the disease and his sister is a breast cancer survivor.

"Like many others, I've lost friends and family to cancer", he said.

Mr. Beimers said just over $2,000 was raised. There are also 12 people's choice awards presented throughout the event and Nathan received one of them.