Soapbox derby racing promotes community 'culture for service'
by Amanda Short
The world of soapbox derby racing is a challenging one, but for Katie Glynn and Justin Yoder challenges are a part of everyday life.
Glynn, an Elkhart resident, has had numerous bone marrow transplants that have destroyed some of her lung capacity. Because of her transplants, she lacks normal body strength.
Despite her ailments, Glynn drove a car sponsored by the GC faculty, which has sponsored a soap box derby vehicle for the past three years.
The participation of faculty in the soapbox derby races
is another way that GC promotes 'culture for service' on a local level.
Irene Miller,a GC postal employee, and her husband Dick helped Glynn prepare for the competition.
Because of Glynn's physical condition, her car needed some alteration. Most soap box cars use a brake controlled by the driver's foot, but Glynn did not have the strength to use a normal brake so a hand-operated brake was installed.
Even after the alteration, Glynn's car still had to pass inspection. Glynn's practices were successful, but she did not place in the top three in the race.
Justin Yoder, another GC faculty-sponsored soapbox motorist and a paraplegic, won the regional race this year, moving up to the All-American Event held in Akron, Ohio.
Just before the race, he became seriously ill and was rushed to the hospital. The coordinators of the derby worked with the hospital to allow Yoder to watch the race.
Yoder's story was broadcast nationwide and, after seeing his story on television, a number of Indiana-polis 500 race car drivers stopped in to see him.
The soapbox derby race is not exclusively for children with disabilities, however. The highest percentage of participants are from the Boys and Girls Club. Also involved in the race are underpriviledged families who may not have many financial resources.
All the youth who participated in the soapbox races acquired their soap box driver's licenses through the Exchange Club.
There are two Exchange Clubs in Goshen and one in Middlebury. The Exchange Clubs are made up of business people who are committed to helping disadvantaged children.
Darin Short, chair of the Exchange Club, works with Mike Smith and Chris Perdervilla to make everything fall into place.
Smith, who works for the Boys and Girls Club, and Perdervilla, who is a representative of Winners on Wheels a club that works with children in wheelchairs locate drivers for the event.
Short matches cars with the participants from these organizations and La Casa.
One challenging aspect of organizing the soapbox derby race is that the entire derby is made possible through donations and volunteer work.
Because the derby relies exclusively on donations and volunteers, there is opportunity for GC students to become involved.
Students interested in information about the Exchange Club and soapbox racing can contact Short at 534-4040.