Evergreen Park's Classic Car Show To Benefit Anthony's Avengers To Defeat DIPG

EVERGREEN PARK, IL -- Bring your hot rod Lincoln to the Village of Evergreen Park’s Hot Rod and Classic Car Show, this Friday, Sept. 29. Dozens of car enthusiasts are expected to show off their classic and antique vehicles from 3 to 10 p.m. at Yukich Field. Admission is free, but food, soft drinks and alcohol will be available for purchase.

The registration fee for car owners is $20. No pre-registration is needed this year, however, to make the on-site registration process easier, car owners are asked to complete the registration form on the village’s websiteand bring it with them to the car show. Registration begins at 3 p.m. Friday.

As with past classic car shows in Evergreen Park, proceeds from this year’s event will go to Anthony's Avengers Defeat DIPG Foundation. Katie Gaskin founded the group in memory of her 7-year-old son Anthony Pappalas, who died from the disease in March. Sandwiched between two brothers, the Mt. Greenwood boy was six-years-old when he was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas. DIPG is an aggressive tumor that forms at the base of the brain that almost exclusive strikes children between the ages of 4 and 11. The disease eventually interferes with the child’s bodily functions, depriving a child of the ability to move, to communicate, and even to eat and drink.

After Anthony’s diagnosis, he was embraced by cousins, neighbors and strangers who called themselves Anthony’s Avengers, after his favorite superhero, who were with him every step of his 19-month fight. Anthony’s Avengers Defeat DIPG Foundation established this year works to raise awareness and funds for research to find a cure for DIPG and to honor Anthony’s legacy. Other past recipients of the classic car show have included March4Meg, Christmas Without Cancer, MyMaryCate and the Wounded Warrior Project.

Visitors to this year’s hot rod and classic car show in Evergreen Park can party and purchase food from local restaurants in the Beer Garden. Musical entertainment will be provided by The Wrong Boys. Yukich Field is located at 89th Street and Kedzie Avenue in Evergreen Park.

COVER PHOTO: Mary Compton