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Rain Fails to Dampen First Annual Lynch Hummer-Pujols Family Foundation Off-Road Event in Chesterfield 03.30.08

The folks at Lynch Hummer and the St. Louis Corvette Club turned a wet and dreary spring Sunday into a goopy, mucky and absolutely awesome afternoon for some local young people with Down syndrome and their families.

The first annual Lynch Hummer Pujols Family Foundation Off-Road Event, held March 30 at the Chesterfield dealership, featured loads of great food (Ted Drewes, Gus' Pretzels, Krispy Kreme, McAlister's Deli … ), fun activities, lots of stunning Corvettes of all vintages and, of course, Hummers big and bigger.

While the never-ending spring rains forced the barbeque and Corvettes inside, it made for a spectacular off-road course for the approximately 250 people who had the chance to climb into one of the Hummers and take a ride on the wild side.

"Yeah, I want one … I want to buy a Hummer," said a smiling Ahren Hansen, a 24-year-old with Down syndrome from Godfrey, Ill., who loved the "big bumps" on the course.

The event sprung from an idea Mike Dean, a manager at Lynch Hummer, had in December when he attended the Pujols Family Foundation O' Night Divine dinner.

"At the Christmas party, they had a video showing the high school prom (held in September for young adults with Down syndrome) and it just clicked," said Dean.

Todd Perry, executive director of the foundation, thought the event would be a great idea. So in January Dean contacted the St. Louis Corvette Club, which is sponsored by the dealership, and club member Ruth Howard ran with the idea.

"We normally only do customer events, three times a year we hold off-road events for them, but nothing like this with the kids," said Dean. "I've been blown away by how well it's gone, it's been better than I could have imagined."

Along with the barbecue and off-road event, the Corvette Club had a cookie walk, a coloring room and face painting as well as a roaming photographer and a photo area where families could have their picture taken and printed in a red Corvette. In all, more than 300 people attended, with those with Down syndrome ranging in age from infants to young adults.

"What's cool is to see everyone hang around, almost like a party, instead of arrive and then leave," said Dean. "I've already told Todd that we want to do it again. We're going to try to make it an annual event."

And Howard, who helped bring in sponsorships from two dozen companies, also spearheaded a $1,000 donation from Sam's Club that will go to the Pujols Family Foundation.

"The coolest part is seeing the kids smile and having a good time," said Howard, who has a cousin with Down syndrome. "It's a great feeling. I've had a blast."

Among those who attended were state Senator John Loudon and his family, Deidre Pujols, and morning show radio host (KLOU, 103.3 FM) and band leader Smash.

"I know a lot of the kids from the prom and it's cool to see everyone frolicking … it's a killer event," said Smash, a Hummer aficionado whose band played the Pujols Family Foundation prom.

In addition to all of the activities and great food, the event also gave families and friends the opportunity to catch up with each other.

But the off-road portion was the big highlight.

About every 30 minutes, ten Hummers would take a group of people on the course behind the dealership. And from the moment the Hummers ascended the Missouri River levee, smiles abounded.

The Hummers then descended into a quagmire of soupy muck, rocks and steep mini hills that the Hummers readily maneuvered. But farther back into the wooded area, the two-foot-deep ruts along the course had the Hummers spitting and shooting sideways as much as forward. Trees that at one moment were feet away were suddenly inches away.

"Fun!," said a beaming Joe Hagan, a 22-year-old with Down syndrome.

"Joe thought he was on a roller coaster," his mom, Chris Hagan, added with a laugh.

At the end of the event, the youngsters also received a big goody bag filled with a Corvette teddy bear, a Sea World dolphin, a Hot Wheels car and more.

And what had begun as yet another rainy day this spring ended in a very fun (and exhausting!) afternoon, thanks to an idea spawned just a few months earlier and carried out by a wonderful group of people.

Click here for photo slideshow.