High school students took on the challenge to make soapboxes racers for participants at George Jeffrey Children’s Centre signature fundraising event.
The ninth annual event that takes place along the road near Waverly Park had around 30 participants fly down the hill over the weekend. High school students made some of the soapbox cars used at this year’s event.
Students from Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute, St. Patrick High School and Sir Winston Churchill Collegiate and Vocational Institute helped to make the cars.
SCVI Grade 12 student Alieah Brown has participated at the event before and wanted to participate again at this year’s event.
“I thought it would be a good idea to get out and do something as well as use all the skills that we learned and we could contribute,” she said. “We’re second fastest so of course I’m happy.”
Fellow student Marc Greaves spent around seven hours working on the car alone and said it probably took the team of 10 around a week and a half in order to make the car road worthy.
He said the hardest part was handling and cutting the wood.
“I have never done anything like this before it was a first time experience,” Greaves said. “It was quite fun. We get to raise awareness for (the Children’s Centre). I think it is good for youth to step up because in the future I`ll probably try doing this again and get other people like my friends to do it as well.”
He added that he’s never driven a soapbox before and would love to try but he doesn’t fit in the car that the built.
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Mary Anne Comuzzi, director of development for the Children’s Centre, said the event is their signature fundraising campaign. Last year the event raised around $20,000 but Comuzzi hinted that they are well above that amount.
Despite some areas being hit hard by the flooding disaster, Comuzzi said attendance at the soapbox racing was up this year.
“Yesterday we had a good show and I think Sunday is going to be even better,” Comuzzi said. “The weather has been a big factor as well as the situation with the flood and our hearts go out to them. We understand and I hope they come out and take a look at what’s going on today and just have a little bit of fun and hopefully that takes their minds off of it.”
Comuzzi said all the proceeds go toward helping the children at the centre and more than 400 children are on a waiting list to help them.
With the 10th anniversary right around the corner, Comuzzi added that they have some big plans in place.
