Second annual Sylvan Lake Show n Shine set to take place this weekend

The Accelerated Revolution Foundation may have had humble beginnings but those days are long gone as they head into their second year of hosting the Sylvan Lake Show N Shine.

The event is garnishing ample attention throughout Alberta on social media according to president of the not for profit Foundation, Crystal Rhayn who explained much of the chatter is due to the success of last year’s event.

The inaugural Sylvan Lake Show N’ Shine saw just over $3’200 being donated to the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and 123 cars in attendance.

“Accelerated Revolution started with a small team of people who had a passion for vehicles. We all come from a background of wanting to help others and do as much good as we can,”said Rhayn during an interview with Sylvan Lake News. “We try to donate to the different causes that hit our hearts the most so we decided why not start a non-profit and use our passion to bring other people together too.”

She detailed how a personal experience led to the group’s decision to donate proceeds from the annual show to the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. Rhayn’s youngest of two sons, ages 7 and 4, had trouble breathing when he was born and was placed in the Stollery’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

“He was in the NICU for a total of 18 hours, he just needed a little bit of extra help to breathe, but it was the longest 18 hours of my life,” said Rhayn. “I know people who have had children in the NICU for months, so being a mom I just wanted to help as much as I could and as a group we wanted give back in any way we can to the people who have helped us.

“Our group all come from very different backgrounds, ethnic origins and parts of Canada but our passions brought us together. We all look out for each other as much as we can and we try to spread that with as many other people as we can.”

In the short time the group has known one another they have worked towards helping a number of other organizations that are near and dear to members.

Rhayn said the car club tries to host three to four events a year outside of the Show N Shine itself. Over this past year the club also held a large fundraiser for the Kidney Foundation in support of another club member who has been experiencing kidney failure for nearly ten years.

During the Fort McMurray wildfires the club vice president also lost their childhood home prompting members of the Accelerated Revolution Foundation to help in any way they could.The team made several supply trips to Fort McMurray, as well as helped to collect pets.

“Around Christmas time this year we also did a ride for Santa’s Anonymous and the Christmas Bureau. We plan to do that again this year and include the Food Bank again,” added Rhayn.

With this year’s show hosting 37 vendors and an expected 800 – 1000 cars, Accelerated Revolutions hopes they will be able to help out in an even bigger way.

Entry categories for the 2016 Sylvan Lake Show N Shine include Best In Show, Best Build Performance, Best Sound, Best In Red Deer, Best In Edmonton and Best In Calgary. This year’s judges for the regional competition will be the from the Youth Initiatives & Education in Lifestyles and Driving Association (YIELD) an initiative operating by the RCMP aiming to make the roadways safer.

YIELD members will narrow down each category to their favourite two entries with the crowd getting the final say in what Rhayn describes as a ‘cheer out’.

“We couldn’t of done this if we weren’t a team. We are really excited to see the variety we have entered this year,” she added.“We have exotics, semi trucks, Harleys, crotch rockets,trucks, cars. It really is a show for car enthusiasts and we are really excited to see what people bring out and lay more groundwork as a club.”

The second annual Sylvan Lake Show N Shine will be held this Saturday, July 23 at Meadowlands Golf Club from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

editor@sylvanlakenews.com