The Kansas City Region Sports Car Club of America (KCRSCCA) is hosting their annual charity event, the Halloweenie, October 29 at the MCC Precision Driving Center in Independence, MO. Variety GoBabyGo! KC has been selected for the third year as the Halloweenie’s charitable organization. Variety GoBabyGo! KC donates modified toy ride-on cars to provide mobility and sociability for children with special needs in the Kansas City area.
Not only are the net proceeds from the event donated to help local children leave their mobility issues in the dust, but KCRSCCA is also hosting a silent auction and taking donations on behalf of Variety GoBabyGo! KC at the event. We are requesting items or services to be donated for the silent auction. If you would like to donate, please contact Jessica Dorn (308-830-2257 or jl_dorn@hotmail.com). An informational flyer has been included below to share with any potential contributors.
Research shows that when children with mobility issues gain the ability to move about and travel on their own, they benefit in multiple ways. Not only are they able to move around independently, but their spirit and mood improves, their language skills progress, and their overall brain development improves. Cole Galloway with GoBabyGo! states, “It is really about how mobility impacts children’s lives. Seeing more, hearing more and exploring more expands kids’ minds. Parents and adults talk more, even if it is just to warn children to be careful and not move so fast. There is an explosion of cognition.”
A volunteer team of Physical Therapy & Engineering students from Rockhurst University modifies electric toy cars for children who are physically and/or developmentally disabled. Due to the huge success of the GoBabyGo! KC program, they have also had several community build days to increase awareness throughout the metro. The KCRSCCA hosted a build day during an event in August 2017 and prepared five cars to be donated at the Halloweenie event this year. We will get to meet some of the children and families that benefit from our donations and see them test out their new cars.
The electric toy cars cost approximately $200-$300. They are then rewired and fitted with a large, easy to push acceleration button which costs an additional $60. To finish off the modifications, they are fitted with a PVC pipe frame to support the back rest and safety harness. All in all, each car costs $300-$400 depending on the extent of modifications needed. These electric toy ride-on cars offer an affordable alternative to motorized wheelchairs which cost thousands of dollars.
The proceeds from the KCRSCCA charity event and silent auction make it possible for the children and families to acquire the cars at no cost. We thank you in advance for your consideration in supporting this awesome cause. If you would like to donate an item or service for the silent auction, please contact Jessica Dorn (308-830-2257 or jl_dorn@hotmail.com).