Legends Car Club capped off 2024 with an impressive donation total, raising $48,781.53 for various organizations that serve Altona and surrounding communities.
Club president Alex Loewen described 2024 as “another successful year of events and giving.
“Through several successful events, including BBQs, car shows, and drag races, the club turned its passion for cars into meaningful contributions to support critical local services and programs.”
The fundraising year began in May with the annual Legends Charity BBQ and Car Show, which featured over 200 entries, followed by the Drive for Cancer event. Held in May, these two initiatives generated a combined total of $27,225 for South Central Cancer Resource (SCCR).
The BBQ was a donation-driven event, while the Drive for Cancer encouraged Legends members to gather pledges from supporters. The club highlighted the community’s generosity as a driving force behind this early success, noting that all donations help sustain SCCR’s ongoing work in cancer care and support.
The club’s most ambitious event of the year, the 20th Annual Legends Charity Airport Drag Races, took place Aug. 17-18. It raised a substantial amount, with 50 per cent of the revenue going to three primary charities: SCCR ($3,579.51), Genesis House ($4,329.51), and the STARS Air Ambulance ($3,629.51).
In addition to the main charity recipients, the club introduced a unique way to extend their donations further: winners of each race category had the option to donate their prize money to a charity of their choice. Additional beneficiaries included Altona and Rhineland Emergency Services (ARES), which provided on-site support throughout the weekend, receiving $1,500, Sixteen13 Ministries, which handled parking and security for the event, also receiving $1,500, and The Community Exchange, which operated the event’s cold shack, getting $1,000.
“It is getting harder to find groups and the manpower to assist us that weekend, but each of these groups are very happy to help, and they all did a very good job,” Loewen said.
As the year came to a close, Legends Car Club members continued their tradition of allocating additional funds to selected charities. This year the club donated $2,000 each to SCCR, Pembina Counselling Centre, and the Altona and Area Family Resource Centre (AAFRC).
“The club has had a longstanding relationship with SCCR and has supported their needs for many years,” Loewen said. “In 2008, the Drive for Cancer raised SCCR’s entire annual budget. And in 2024, their transport budget alone is over $220,000. That’s just for the transport, excluding everything else they do. We gave them a total of $32,000 this year, and that’s just a drop in the bucket. But every little bit counts.”
He added, “We couldn’t have run these events without the support of our community, sponsors, and the generosity of people who believe in these causes. It’s incredible to see how our love for cars and community can make a real difference.”
Looking ahead, Loewen says next year’s schedule will be status quo.
“Why change something if it’s working? However, we are always open to new members. If anyone has an interest in specialty vehicles or collector vehicles, and they like what we’re doing and they want to help, we will welcome you. It’s only $30 a year. we don’t have a lot of administrative meetings; just a few in the winter. But if anybody likes what we’re doing, membership is always open.”
