In Quincy, Illinois, the Breakfast Optimist Club sponsors a Soap Box Derby.Over the past three years, it has grown from 65 to 122 participants and enlarged from a 1-day event to 2-days.
The competition takes place at the 18th Street Hill near Bob Mays Park, and that is a perfect location to generate some speed and excitement for the Super Kids Soap Box Derby Competition.
Who are the Super Kids who take part?
Special needs children from local organizations.
According to race director Ray Wilson, Quincy, Illinois will soon be known as the epicenter for the Super Kids Soap Box Derby. Although the Derby is a fundraiser for the Breakfast Optimist Club's cancer fund, the Super Kids are not charged an entry fee. Local sponsors like Hy-Vee and Home Depot, among others, make it possible to treat the children to a great event and support another great cause. "This whole project sounds enormous to many," said Wilson, "but it is not difficult when people's hearts are in the right place."
Wilson went on to explain that many of these parents have difficulty involving their sons and daughters in sporting events. The Super Kids races are very positive event for them, the children and the community.
That's what being an Optimist Club member is all about: Bringing out the best in youth, our community and ourselves.
Photo: Michael Kipley
