LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
Gearheads in Edgar County and the surrounding area are invited to Lake Ridge Christian Church Saturday, June 17, to showcase their rides for a noble cause. The Charity Car Show Benefiting Sandy Landsaw is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Lake Ridge parking lot.
All proceeds from the event are for the event’s eponym: Sandy Landsaw.
Landsaw, a wife, mother of four and grandmother of 10, was diagnosed with stage three lung cancer near the start of 2023. Landsaw was eventually forced to step away from her work at Simonton Windows & Doors because of her illness and the vigorous treatment schedule.
“I’d say it’s been about six months since she’s been full-time,” said Stephanie Williams – a friend of Landsaw and one of the event’s organizers.
Since Landsaw is unable to work, the financial toll of treatments, repeated trips to Champaign and St. Louis and other everyday expenses have hit her especially hard. Williams and Brenda Davis, a friend of Landsaw’s for 13 years, knew they needed to find a way to support their companion and co-worker.
“Stephanie and I were talking one day, and I said, ‘Well hey, we need to do something,’” Davis recalled.
After laying the groundwork for a silent auction, a 50-50 drawing and a quilt raffle, Williams and Davis decided they needed a way to attract a crowd to the fundraiser. Williams settled on a car show.
“We ended up landing on Father’s Day weekend,” Williams explained. “(We) said ‘Hey, let’s do a car show – something that the dads will enjoy.’ Come out, celebrate Father’s Day… it’d be for a good cause.”
Before long, Williams was lining up sponsors.
“This amazing young girl brought it to life,” said Davis of Williams. “She started wheeling and dealing, getting the cars and motorcycles and events.”
Contestants are welcome to register their vehicle on location the morning of the event, starting at 7 a.m. The cost of registration is $25.
Cars, trucks and motorcycles of all kinds are welcome. The top 10 vehicles, as decided by event judges, will receive trophies.
Williams contacted the Wabash Valley Jeep Junkies, a group of Jeep enthusiasts, and expects them to make a strong showing at the event.
For anyone interested in the auctions, drawings and giveaways scheduled for the event, plenty of prizes await. More than 50 assorted gift baskets and big-ticket items, like a free 30-day pass to Top Guns Training Academy in Terre Haute, Ind., and a grill, are up for grabs in the silent auction.
Hot dogs and chips will be provided for attendees, and local students will lend their services by setting up lemonade stands on the premises. According to Williams, students of all ages have volunteered in various capacities – an encouraging sign for a mother.
“I've had a lot of teenagers volunteer to come help with things,” said Williams. “For me as a mom (that) is the biggest testament that we're doing something right with the next generation.”
The outpouring of love and support from the community has been overwhelming for Williams and Davis.
“I’ve been very emotional in the last two, three weeks. Just seeing the outpour of love and support from people we don’t know – people that have never met Sandy,” Williams said, fighting back tears.
“You don’t see all the time that the community comes together,” added Davis.
The support offered by the volunteers and local businesses is motivating for Davis and Williams, who plan to see the event through to the end, even if the weather does not cooperate.
“Rain or shine, we will be there no matter what the weather looks like,” said Williams.
For more information or to make a donation, contact Williams at (217) 264-6806 or on Facebook at Stephanie Jo Williams.