A car show this Sunday in the Morden Park serves as both a fundraiser and tribute to a dear friend of its organizers.
The Danny Berg Show ‘n Shine helps to carry on the legacy of someone who made a difference in the world.
“Danny was just someone who cared about everyone. It didn’t matter if he had just met you or knew you for a long time,” said Mackenzie Loewen. “He just cared, and he just wanted to love on other people. He was a genuine awesome friend.”
The Danny Berg Show ‘n Shine was an initiative of Loewen along with Josiah Warkentin and Dennis Hoeppner. The trio, who are involved with Westside Community Church in Morden, saw this as an ideal way to honour the memory of Berg, who was passionate about community and helping others.
The funds raised at the event will support missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Berg had been involved in doing mission work.
He had been in the Congo three years ago and had enough of an impact there that a centre for training youth in business and agriculture was named the Danny Berg Hub.
“He made an impact there, so the funds being raised go to the Congo missions team … our church does a lot of mission work out there,” said Loewen.
Berg passed away suddenly after a workplace accident at the age of 19.
“He was a really good friend,” Loewen shared. “Losing Danny, we wanted to do something each year to just memorialize him.”
A car show seemed to make sense.
“Both Josiah and I really love cars, and Danny loved cars too, so it was like a car show was the perfect fit,” said Loewen.
The show goes from noon to 4 p.m. There will be food available for purchase as well as some door prizes and awards for participating vehicles.
“If people are bringing their vehicles in, we ask that they show up a bit earlier, perhaps around 11 a.m.,” said Loewen, who noted the show is free for spectators but there is an entry fee of $10 for a vehicle. The fundraising that day is done largely through donations.
“The last two years have had great turnout, and we’ve had some awesome cars show up … a lot of people came to just support it as well,” said Loewen, who noted the event had so far raised over $12,000.
“It’s nice to remember him and do things that he loved and support something that was important to him.”
