Beacon for Hope Suicide Prevention kicked off its local Suicide Prevention Month activities with its Hope with Horsepower car show Saturday.
Among those bringing vehicles was Emporian Ryan Gifford, who had a 1972 Pontiac Le Mans Sport — a car he has been taking care of for better than 20 years, including restorations after the Chapman tornado of 2008.
Gifford echoed a lot of car show presenters when asked why he wanted to participate in Saturday’s event.
Beacon for Hope Board President Becky DeJesus was pleased to see the turnout.
Locally, Beacon is getting ready for its first-ever Gravel Grind for Hope cycling event in Lebo on Sept. 20 and its now-annual Hope Links Us Together Suicide Prevention Walk at C of E Park on Sept. 27, but DeJesus says there is more work ahead elsewhere as Beacon expands into southeast Kansas.
Hope with Horsepower was initially set for Soden’s Grove, but heavy rainfall over the Labor Day weekend, followed by more rain Wednesday, prompted organizers to move to Flinthills Mall — even before light shower activity Friday. Several food trucks were part of the event as well as services specifically for veterans.
*Click here for KVOE’s YouTube channel, including a YouTube Short from the event.
Photos by Chuck Samples/KVOE News
