A fundraiser aimed at helping children battling cancer suffered a setback.

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Members of the Kiwanis Club in Gladstone said thieves stole tires and rims and vandalized a 2008 Ford Mustang that the group planned to raffle off for a children’s charity.

The club was hoping to use the car to raise thousands of dollars for cancer research at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

A member of the Kiwanis club, Bob Collison, said thieves punched holes in the car’s hood and cut power to the vehicle’s alarm system, before putting it on blocks and stealing the rims and tires sometime Tuesday night.

The damage to the car is estimated at $6,000.

The club has been raffling cars for 18 years and said this is the first time something like this has occurred.

“Kind of sad inside, you know? I just hope the person who took it knows what they did,” said Collison. “That’s $6,000 that won’t go to the children’s cancer research at Dornbecher.”

Collison said the Kiwanis are in the process of buying a new hood and wheels for the vehicle and plan to raffle off the vehicle.

If you’d like to help the charity, visit www.kdccp.org.