A show and shine this past Sunday in the Morden Park served as both a fundraiser and a tribute to a dear friend of its organizers.
The Danny Berg Show n’ Shine is an initiative of Josiah Warkentin, Mackenzie Loewen, and Dennis Hoeppner, and the trio, who are involved with Westside Community Church, see it as an ideal way to honour someone who they share was passionate about community and helping others.
The funds raised at the event go to support missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Berg had been involved in doing mission work.
“Danny had such a love for cars and for community,” said Warkentin. “And he’s the guy on the street you could walk up to, not know him at all, and have a full on conversation with … so he was just very much out there and would like to get to know everybody.
“So this raises funds for a cause which he absolutely loved, which was a Congo mission … he had just recently come back from there right before he passed away,” he said. “We thought this sounds like something he would love.”
Berg had been in the Congo two years ago, and he had enough of an impact there that a centre for training youth in the areas of business and agriculture is named the Danny Berg Hub in his honour.
Berg passed away suddenly after a workplace accident last June, just about a month after having turned 19 years old.
The Danny Berg Show n’ Shine ran from noon to four in the Morden Park bowl, and those who wanted to participate simply had to show up and pay a $5 entry fee for their vehicle.
Organizers were still crunching the numbers at press time, but Warkentin was hopeful they would surpass the $8,900 that came in from the first event last year.
“It had a great turnout. I think we had about 80 vehicles that turned out. It was way above what we were expecting for our first time out.
“We were overjoyed with how much came in,” Warkentin said. “It says we’re doing the right thing. The cause is there, and people see the value of it and want to come out and support what Danny stood for.
“It’s just family friendly fun, cars and just having a good time, and it’s really fantastic to see the support.”
