(COLORADO SPRINGS) — A family in Colorado Springs introduced a new auto show in the community to raise money for those who have experienced bullying or abuse.
“It’s all about community support,” said Randy Ketter, an organizer for Pikes Peak Motor Mania.
The inaugural edition of the Pikes Peak Motor Mania saw plenty of fancy cars showing off their fancy engines and other features to win awards given out at the Audubon Center on Saturday.
“We’ve got a twin turbo GTO out here, and an ’80 Pontiac Trans Am Turbo,” said Dylan Ketter, an organizer for Pikes Peak Motor Mania.
There were vendors set up near the cars as well. A silent auction was held alongside the auto show. It’s all to raise awareness and money for Aedyn’s Backpack Club, a nonprofit organization that was started because of Karen Cibula’s son, Aedyn’s, experience with bullying during elementary and middle school.
“I was getting attacked, name-called, getting burned, and it killed me. And I never fought back,” Aedyn said in a YouTube video posted in January of 2022.
The Cibulas’ last five years have been filled with trials and tribulations, but they won after Aedyn and Karen decided to use the pain they experienced for good.
“That’s one of the things I’ve always taught my kids when they were growing up,” Karen said. “I always said no matter what, we’re always going to have some type of pain in our life, and there’s going to be pain throughout your life. So, to always turn your pain into purpose and passion.”
They did so by creating Aedyn’s Backpack Club, and ever since, it’s grown into hosting fundraiser after fundraiser around Colorado Springs.
Among the cars displayed was Aedyn’s BMW, which he saved up to buy. But beyond the cars, vendors, and silent auction, the event is about bringing the community together to remind people we are better working together than against each other.
“If you’ve got any issues, problems going on, go to your parents, go to a friend, have your parents call us and we’ll make sure everybody gets taken care of,” Randy Ketter said.
Karen tells FOX21 News there will be more planned fundraising events in the coming months.
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