Like many people, Bob Rudy watched the events unfolding in Ukraine and wanted to help. "I wanted to fly over there and carry children and pets to safety," he recalled saying to his wife, Debra, while watching the news one evening. "This obviously wasn't a brilliant decision, so my wife suggested using the talents and resources I have right here at home to help out." Inspired by his love for music and cars, Rudy organized Cruisin' for Ukraine. The event will be held at Root's Country Market and Auction, 705 Graystone Road, Manheim, on Saturday, April 23.

Although Rudy had the idea, he knew he needed help to make it happen. "Putting a car show together isn't something an individual can do," he noted, adding that he recruited his fellow members of a local car club to help. "I couldn't possibly do it without my brothers and sisters in the Lancaster County Cruisers."

Registration for the show will be by donation and will take place at the event. Registration will begin at 9 a.m., and dash plaques will be given to the first 200 vehicles registered. More than 30 trophies will be awarded in the "Anything on Wheels" category, based on the highest amount of donations submitted, and all proceeds will be donated to the Mennonite Central Committee to help the people of Ukraine.

The event is a family show, and children are encouraged to enter their own vehicles, including pedal cars or Power Wheels. Family pets will also be included in the festivities, with trophies for the three highest donations in both the kids' and pet categories.

The J.C. Fisher Band will perform from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The presentation of trophies will take place at 2 p.m. Rudy acknowledged the support of Root's Market for allowing the event to take place on-site and noted that a variety of the market's vendors will be available during the show.

Rudy encouraged participants to show their support for the Ukrainian people by displaying flags, signs and banners. An additional trophy will be awarded for the entry that shows the most support.

Acknowledging the help he's received in putting together a big event in a short amount of time, Rudy recalled evidence of divine intervention. He connected with someone on Facebook who was giving away trophies, which Rudy plans to retrofit for this event. On his way to pick them up in Maryland, he passed a church. "It was so beautiful and at first, I thought it was a mosque," he remembered. "Then I saw the sign. It was the St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral. That was another sign to me that I was doing the right thing in organizing the car show."

In the event of rain, the show will be postponed to Saturday, April 30, and information will be posted on the Cruisin' for Ukraine Facebook page as well as on Rudy's internet radio station at http://www.mypetradio.com. For more information on the event, email cruisinforukraine@gmail.com.