Lawrenceburg, In.— Lawrenceburg High School alumni and Purdue University freshman, Logan Lawrence has an accomplished resume – class president all of high school, member of College Mentors for Kids and First Year Engineering Advisory Council at Purdue University. He was the LHS Class of 2018 salutatorian, and Prudential Spirit of Community State with a high school GPA of 4.0. With the help of nearly fifty volunteers who believed in him, the young leader has raised over forty thousand dollars through his annual car show for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a disease he is most familiar with. The disease took the life of his grandfather, Carlos Lawrence, in 2009.
In early 2017 the third generation National Hot Rod Association racer at Edgewater Sports Park had plans to host his first car show in honor of his grandfather, who also loved racing. Lawrence set a goal to raise $10,000 for ALS research and to have 200 cars at the event. Nearly425 classic car owners traveled from all across the country to support the student and his cause. Lawrence was delighted to present the Indiana ALS Association with a $15,000 check. The second-year moved downtown Lawrenceburg with support from the City of Lawrenceburg and had over 600 cars while raising over $23,000 for ALS.
In 2008, when Logan was just eight years old, his grandfather began experiencing startling health concerns. Difficulty in sleeping and breathing were two of the initial symptoms. After a physician’s evaluation and recommended diagnostic testing, ALS was confirmed. Carlos Lawrence gradually lost his ability to speak, experienced trouble walking and eventually lost the ability to breathe on his own. Carlos was admitted to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and later to the Drake Center, where he was placed on a ventilator. The student visited his grandpa every day, communicating by writing back and forth on a dry erase board. At 67, Carlos Lawrence passed away just one year after being diagnosed. “My grandpa meant a lot to me and to our whole family, and now I want to continue to honor him and others who are diagnosed with ALS,” said the Purdue University freshman who is studying engineering. Paul Rinderknecht, Cincinnati, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2016, realizes the need for support. The father of two young children said, “This disease has put an enormous physical, mental and financial strain on me and my family. Advocacy creates awareness, which leads to critical funding necessary to solve this problem. I am honored to be a part of this event again this year.”
Plans are now underway for the third annual Cruisin’ to a Cure for ALS Car Show, slated for this Sunday, May 5, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on downtown Lawrenceburg streets. The organizer invites everyone to the show as a participant or spectator. In addition to a variety of vehicles, there will be a kids’ area, disc jockey music, local choir performances, food, a live auction with anything you can imagine and a morning church service offered by Kentucky Race Way Ministries beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Zion Church on Walnut Street. Public parking will be available in the BMV parking lot on Front and Tate streets and Ivy Tech Community College parking garage at Walnut and High streets. The morning of the car show, registration is from 9 a.m.-noon with awards at 4 p.m. There will be over $1,000 in cash prizes along with Cruisin’ to a Cure for ALS trophies awarded in various categories, including 20 specialty trophies, top 50 classic (1990 and older), and top 25 modern (1991 to present). “I would love to be able to present a check for $30,000 to the ALS Association Indiana Chapter this year. It takes a lot of us to do it! Please share this event with your friends! Even if you don’t have a car, come check it all out and learn more about ALS,” said Logan. Lawrence can be reached for additional information at 513-532.7261, [email protected] or through the Cruisin’ to a Cure for ALS Facebook page. Donations for ALS research are appreciated. Contributions can be mailed to Cruisin’ to a Cure for ALS, c/o Friendship State Bank, P.O. Box 357, Friendship, IN 47021. For more information regarding ALS and support and resources for individuals and families, click here.
Submitted: Suzzi Romines
