Saturdays of thunder: Challenge Races in Sammamish | SLIDESHOW

For the ninth year, the Rotary Club of Sammamish paired children with special needs and volunteers from local schools to race down Southeast 24th Street Saturday during the soapbox Challenge Series Races.

By Megan Campbell • August 24, 2015 2:20 pm
Racers in the 2015 Challenge Series Races in Sammamish let gravity do the work as they flew down Southeast 24th Street in Sammamish Aug. 22 at about 9:30 a.m.
Racers in the 2015 Challenge Series Races in Sammamish let gravity do the work as they flew down Southeast 24th Street in Sammamish Aug. 22 at about 9:30 a.m.

When they got into their car, some waved to the little crowd standing on the sidewalk, one made claims of victory and others looked straight ahead with pure determination.

For the ninth year, the Rotary Club of Sammamish paired children with special needs and volunteers from local schools to race down Southeast 24th Street Saturday during the soapbox Challenge Series Races. The races began at 9 a.m. and ended at 2:30 p.m.

Cheerleaders from Skyline High School lined the street and cheered the racers on as they flew past.

There was a smaller crowd in attendance than expected, Abbey White, who works for the nonprofit Life Enrichment Options.

Called “LEO” for short, the nonprofit is a community-based organization dedicated to supporting those with developmental disabilities. Its founders created the soapbox race series, which runs statewide. It began in Spokane June 20 and continued in several Eastside cities, like Issaquah July 18. The series concludes mid-September in Snoqualmie.

“It’s just kind of one of those heartwarming events,” said Fred Nystrom, executive director of Life Enrichment Options. “It’s become, really, a nice community event.”