Community Voices: Purple Peace Foundation Makes Difficult Decision To Cancel Car Show

by Stacey Perry, Community Outreach Coordinator, Purple Peace Foundation
 

     After great consideration for our participants, spectators, and volunteers, Purple Peace Foundation has made the decision to cancel the 6th Annual “Cruise for Consciousness” Car Show scheduled for August 2nd.
     Many factors played into this decision, including, but not limited to:
     1. VOLUNTEERS- Many of our Purple Peace Family Members would not be able to volunteer or attend because the risks are too great. At our core, we are a health awareness organization and, as such, many of our consistent supporters are high risk to not only contract the virus, but to have serious complications/co-morbidities if they were to do so.
     2. NUMBERS- Covid-19 case numbers are rising in Missouri and it is impossible to know what the situation will look like in six weeks. With the amount of work, time, and expense that goes into putting on a quality show, we don’t feel we can gamble with having to cancel at the last minute, nor do we want to inconvenience our car show community and sponsors any more than necessary by doing such.
     3. IMPACT- The repercussions of having even one person expose others to the virus is too great.
     The responsibility for the community’s health as well as the logistics of trying to notify people on the chance they were to be exposed is more than we are willing to take on. To inadvertently cause people illness and/or the need to quarantine for 10 or more days and to possibly miss work, appointments, classes etc., because they got exposed at the car show is an unnecessary gamble.
     If you’ll allow me a couple more minutes of your time, I’d like to share my thoughts on this straight from my heart, hopefully, to yours.
     This car show has become so much more than an event or a fundraiser. I know this is very disappointing and frustrating. Trust me... this is my baby. This is what Dad and I "do" together all spring and summer each year; it's become our thing.
     I love my car guys and gals! I love visiting with them as I pass out flyers. I love having them show me what they’ve done to their cars since we last saw each other and getting swept up in their enthusiasm. And I love plopping down in their chairs and sharing about Purple Peace and our work.
     These participants look forward to this particular show and plan for it; we have built relationships over the years. I've gone to the visitation of a gentleman that I didn't know his name, but he was one of my favorites cuz we would sit and give each other such cra, er, a hard time at every show we saw each other at leading up to the event. I can point out a couple of our regulars who diabetic and request sugar-free pies. And I always look forward to seeing the gentleman who comes each year in honor of his adult daughter who deals with seizures and proudly displays pictures of her brain scans on his vehicle.
     And they love me! They ask about the kids. Many noticed when I cut my hair off. They ached with me when we lost our mutual car friend and Purple Peace family member, Jason, last year. They constantly ask how I'm feeling, about my shock collar (Vagal Nerve Stimulator) etc. Not out of any sense of obligation or social etiquette, but because they truly want to know. And they wrap their arms around me and tell me it’s good to see me again… and mean it!
     And the day of our show? I LOVE watching months of work come together for one great cause. A cause that makes a difference in so many people’s lives. And definitely in mine.
     So, I hurt.
     We hurt.
     Yes, our “Cruise for Consciousness” is much more than a fundraiser.
     It is a family reunion.
     I, WE, look forward to being reunited on August 1, 2021.
 
With GREAT love and appreciation; a little sadness; and clean hands,
 
Stacey Perry
Purple Peace Foundation
Community Outreach Coordinator
Car Show Lover