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Leon Evans Cruise in to Benefit Epilepsy Research Program

Hello from the Neurology Department at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. We just wanted to let everyone know about the Leon Evans Cruise-In car show that helps raise money for the UI Foundation Epilepsy Research Program. We thought you might also enjoy hearing how this event got started and how it became a fundraiser for Epilepsy Research here at Iowa. Enjoy this wonderful story and hope you can make it to the Cruise-In car show. 

Here is Kathy Houser filling us in on this great event on Oct. 8th, 2016:


The car show started out as a private event Jake’s grandfather, my dad, started in his yard in 2009. This was his way of keeping in touch with all of his car/racing buddies he acquired over the years. And it was a huge success, with 110 cars alone in dad’s yard!

When my father passed away in 2014 many approached the family about keeping the car show going, so we did, moving it out of the family’s yard to the Fairfax Sports Complex, in Fairfax IA., that same year, with over 300 cars in attendance.

We didn’t want to profit from the get together, keeping it true to my dad’s original intentions it has stayed a “Cruise In” meaning you come and go as you please, no judging or trophies, or pressure, just a car party, with music, food, and lots to see and talk about. Our show was one of the 1st around set up this way; we have since noticed the theme has caught on, with a few of the smaller towns in IA getting away from the judging classes and trophies.

The decision to give our proceeds to the UIHC Epilepsy research program was a very easy one, my brother also had epilepsy, and we had gotten to know Dr. Granner and Dr. Richerson very well over the last few years, seeing what truly impressive doctors they are, taking the time to sort out Jake’s seizures and look for a solution. Jake and his family have been to many top rated hospitals in the midwest, some very well known, who were completely off track when it came to the proper diagnosis, which almost ended Jake’s life. I couldn’t get them to look further, nobody wanted to listen, many actually felt it was a physiological issue for Jake, making his school years a nightmare. The Neurology group of doctors at UIHC and what they bring to Iowa is worth our time and effort to be rewarded somehow, someway. I guess we feel so fortunate with Jake’s surgical outcome, that we need to give back, and this car event seemed to be a perfect fit!

This event grows bigger each year, and it is getting difficult for our family alone to pull it off. If you would like to put the word out that we could use some help that would be fine. We have a 50/50, 50% goes to the ticket holder, and 50% back to the show, which is donated of course. We sell raffle tickets and draw 20 or so every hour for some really cool door prizes. We also sell t-shirts and hats, all proceeds going to Epilepsy research at UIHC. Mainly help with selling t-shirts and raffle tickets, drawing tickets and writing these on a white board for the crowd to come and see if they can claim a prize.

We have a DJ set up to play music all day, the concession stand will be open, hamburgers, hot dogs, drinks, great indoor clean restrooms, playground area for kids, over a mile of walking trails at this complex, smooth cement, all handicap accessible. I have been to a lot of car show, this Sports complex is one of the nicest places I have seen!

Take a peek at our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LeonEvansCruiseIn/