Tyler Rissanen feels the need for speed.
On June 5 and 6, he’ll get all the speed he needs, roaring down the hill leading into Waverly Park during George Jeffrey’s annual soap box races.
It’s the second year young Tyler, an eight-year client at the centre, has participated in the races, and he can’t wait.
"I ride with my mom," he said on Wednesday, before a practice run on Antonisen Avenue, behind George’s Market. "It’s really fast."
His mom, Nancy Rissanen, who will ride with her son in a specially-designed two-seat racer, said it was too much fun not to do for a second year, and the cause is one near and dear to her heart.
"It raises a lot of money for the centre for hopefully an accessible playground as well as more equipment for the centre," she said. "It’s also a great spectator event for people to come out and watch and the kids have fun – typical and special kids," Rissanen said.
She’s seen first-hand what the centre can do for challenged children. The weekly visits have become part of the Rissanen family routine, and have helped her son immensely.
"What they do is improve what he’s unable to do and make him as typical a child as other children are," she said.
Mary Anne Comuzzi, director of development at the George Jeffrey Children’s Centre, said the event has fast become a staple in the community. Last year 27 cars were entered, and she’s expecting similar numbers in 2010.
Past participants can expect more of the same this time around.
"We have different classifications. We have some modified. But the most important is our special needs. We have two-seater cars that are built so the children get to experience going down the hill," Comuzzi said. "They have a guardian or a family member who goes down the hill with them. We also have prizes for all of them."
One hundred per cent of the money raised is put back into programming at the centre. The races also build profile for the institution. At the same time it also gets children in their care involved.
It’s why participants come back again and again, Comuzzi said.
"It’s amazing. We have a lot of people who build the soap boxes, and the next year they come with one that’s bigger and better and faster. It’s a competition, and it’s some of the big boys who are more in competition than the children."
New this year is a Come Fly With Me raffle that will see someone with a trip for two anywhere WestJet flies. Tickets are $5.
Time trials will commence on June 5 at 9 a.m. Final races begin Sunday, June 6 at noon.
