In 1925, Helen Keller empowered Lions Club International to embrace serving and advocating for the blind and visually impaired. Nearly a century later, the long-standing mission continues in local chapters such as the Satellite Beach Lions Club, which on Saturday, Sept. 28, will host a major fundraiser to help fund KidSight, a nonprofit that provides free vision screening for children.
Because as much as 80 percent of learning in early childhood occurs through the eyes, healthy vision is important for children’s early development. KidSight’s screenings detect vision problems early, and the program helps parents get their children treatment before it’s too late to avoid the permanent vision loss that can result from some eye conditions.
Using a photoscreening device, trained technicians take a picture of a child’s eyes and instantly analyze the results to determine if the child is at risk for a vision problem.
“If there is a problem, the child is referred to an eye doctor who can offer recommendations to the parents,” said Lance Smith, one of the organizers of the car show.
“A lot of problems that can cause loss of eyesight can be corrected early.”
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On good years, the show has raised $8,000 for the cause; it helps the bottom line that the Lions do the cooking themselves for the burgers and hot dogs that are popular show fare.
“We’re noted for our cooking,” Smith said.
One hundred percent of the proceeds go to local KidSight and other charitable endeavors. This year’s show should be a hit, since the event will be held at the American Muscle Car Museum in Melbourne. Even better, the museum proper will be open to those who donate $30 per guest to the Lions.
The fact that the museum will be open is driving the registrations skyward. Each car registration, which also costs $30, includes a ticket to view the impressive array of vehicular muscle.
“We’re getting a lot of interest from out of town because of the museum,” Smith said.
Attendees will have plenty of car eye candy to enjoy, with a selection that spans the 1920s to the present.
Among the participants will be the rare Dodge Little Red Wagon, an exhibition drag racing truck introduced in 1965. The world’s fastest truck at the time, the Little Red Wagon was the first wheelstanding truck, too, earning its place in Guinness records with a wheelstand the length of a ¾ mile drag strip.
Speaking of car racing, Smith is a pro from way back. The son of a North Carolina NASCAR racer, Smith held a NASCAR license for short track from 1975 to 1996, so if the man tells you there will be some cool cars at the Lions show, he knows what he is talking about.
If you have an automotive baby you would like to show off, registration is open until the day of the show. If you don’t have a car to exhibit, come anyway, because general admission is free.
The show runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the American Muscle Car Museum, 3500 Sarno Rd., Melbourne. For more information, call 321-403-3971 or 610-742-7878.
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