4th Annual Cruisin To A Cure Car Show Returns To L'Burg Sept. 6

Proceeds will benefit the Indiana ALS Association.

The 4th annual Cruisin to a Cure for ALS Car Show happens Sunday, September 6 in downtown Lawrenceburg. File photo. 

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - While most college students are preparing to go back to school, whether in person or through online courses, one local Purdue student from Lawrenceburg, Indiana is soon preparing to turn back towards home. Logan Lawrence, a 2018 graduate of Lawrenceburg High School and current Purdue University junior industrial engineering student has hosted an annual car show in honor of his late grandfather, Carlos since 2017. This year, the fourth annual show may look much different due to the Coronavirus, but at the present time, and with determination, additional safety measures, and local to nationwide support, the show Cruisin’ to a Cure for ALS is scheduled to move forward for Sunday, September 6th, 9 to 4 p.m. in downtown Lawrenceburg.

Logan was just eight years old when his grandfather, Carlos Lawrence, a business owner and a big influence in Logan’s life, began experiencing startling health concerns. Difficulty in sleeping and breathing were two of the initial symptoms. After a physician’s examination, evaluation, and recommended diagnostic testing, Carlos Lawrence was diagnosed with ALS. ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is an incurable, progressive disease that attacks the nervous system that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Often the disease starts with stiffness in hands, feet, and legs, difficulty swallowing, twitching, and slurred speech. Eventually, paralysis of the muscles of the limbs and trunk are noticed, and eventually, loss of control of vital functions such as speech, swallowing, and eventually breathing are affected.

Carlos gradually lost his ability to speak, experienced trouble walking, and eventually lost the ability to breathe on his own. He was admitted the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and later to the Drake Center, where he was placed on a ventilator. Logan visited his grandpa every day, communicating by writing back and forth on a dry erase board. At 67, Carlos Lawrence passed away, just one year after being diagnosed.

In early 2017, Logan, the third generation National Hot Rod Association racer at Edgewater Sports Park made his initial plans to host his first car show in honor of his grandfather. Logan set goals, one to raise $10,000 for ALS research and another to have 200 cars at the event. The day of the show, 425 classic car owners traveled from all across the country, lining up at the entrance gate to support the student and his cause. Logan was delighted to later present the Indiana ALS Association with a $15,000 check. In the years following, he has exceeded his goals every year with the help of nearly 80 volunteers, not only in the number of cars, but with his contribution for ALS research, which now totals more than $65,000.

If being a 20 year old college student, who is not only carrying a 3.6 GPA, is a College Mentor for Kids and a math tutor at Purdue, was not enough to handle, hosting a huge car show through the COVID-19 pandemic has tested his determination. Logan has worked diligently with the City of Lawrenceburg and the Dearborn County Health Department, along with other entities to review logistics and safety for everyone in attendance.

Currently there have been 125 car show registrations, only just a fraction of those who plan to showcase their vehicles. Registrations will be taken the day of the show up until 12:00 p.m. for a cost of $20.00 with awards announced at 4 p.m. Logan has fielded calls from all across the United States as car enthusiasts who partake in summer car shows are looking forward to the Labor Day weekend event to be held on Walnut and High Streets in Lawrenceburg.

The 2020 awards include: Best of Show award of $500, Top 25 Modern trophies (1991 and newer), Top 50 Classic (1990 and older), and $200.00 for the farthest distance traveled. There are also categories for motorcycles, specialty categories, and race cars. Plans for the day also include a morning church service, children’s activities, DJ, food stands, door prizes, t-shirt sales and more. It is recommended that everyone in attendance wear masks if they cannot maintain social distancing for the well-being of themselves and of others and booths will have sanitizing stations.

Now more than ever, support for those diagnosed and their families is needed. One hundred percent of the funds raised through the Cruisin’ to a Cure for ALS Car Show will be put towards research, advancement in medicines and supporting those affected. ALS scientists are making strides with understanding ALS and finding a cure but for the estimated 20,000 people in the United States currently living with ALS, time is a big factor. Life expectancy is just 2-5 years. Logan Lawrence knows all too well of what families are going through. “My grandpa meant a lot to me and to our whole family, and now I continue to honor him and others who are diagnosed with ALS with this annual car show.”

Donations for ALS research are appreciated. Contributions can be mailed to Cruisin’ to a Cure for ALS, c/o Friendship State Bank, P.O. Box 357, Friendship, IN 47021. Logan looks forward to seeing everyone there and extends a big thank you to Formula Trailers, Keen Parts, Lawrence Motorsports, Eagle 99.3 Radio, and Civista Bank for being the main event sponsors. For more information regarding ALS for support and resources, visit www.alsa.org.

Logan Lawrence can be reached for additional information and interviews at 513-532.7261, logan352law@gmail.com or through the Cruisin’ to a Cure for ALS Facebook page. Follow Logan’s show’s Facebook page regarding any changes