THORNTON, Colo. — The line of cars is miles long. Stretching from a Big Lots in Thornton to Miya's house, a quiet neighborhood now echoing with the sound of mufflers roaring.
"It brings a big smile to my heart," said Shaun Kendle, pointing to the hundreds of cars and drivers lining the parking lot stage up area. He is Miya's uncle. "All these people showed up for someone they didn't even know."
Miya Woody passed away on Thursday after a yearlong battle with brain cancer. Saturday was supposed to be her farewell party, a small gathering of family members to say goodbye. But social distancing prevented her from having one last party. So the car community stepped in.
"Regardless if she passed away, we're still going to turn out," said Marliana Magna, who organized the parade. "I just want her to know that we did it. We did it. And I wish she was here to see it."
The loud parade was continued for hours, cars revving engines right in front of Miya's house.
"We were never expecting it to get this big, not even close. We were expecting maybe 30 cars, not this many," said Karole Reed, Miya's Mother. "She was honored the right way."