Three years ago, in the wake of a significant loss, a group of friends decided to honour their late loved one with something he appreciated a great deal — cars.
Through this, the Danny Berg Show N’ Shine was born.
“[Danny] had a love for cars and community, and we thought, ‘Let's continue that and put on this Show N’ Shine,’” said Josiah Warkentin, one of the organizers of the car show.
A successful few years
Mackenzie Loewen, another organizer, says that over the last two years, the group has had “a really good” turnout at the event, as well as plenty of support from the community. Last year, a notable 65 cars appeared in Morden Park in memory of Berg.
In addition to gathering in Morden to appreciate vehicles, the Show N’ Shine has also been a fundraising opportunity for a cause about which Berg had been most enthusiastic — mission work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In the two years that the Danny Berg Show N’ Shine has been operating, it has raised $12,000 for missions in the country.
It’s an achievement that Berg’s friends know he would have been fond of.
“I think he would be really appreciative of how much people want to support a cause that he loved,” said Loewen.
Following in his son’s footsteps
Dennis Hoeppner, who travelled to the Congo with Berg on missions, says that what drew him to the region was the children.
“We do some work with orphanages there, and I think that really touched him,” he said, adding that last year, he took along Berg’s father on the same trip in a full circle occurrence.
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“He wanted to see what Danny saw out there, because Danny was changed,” he said.
According to Hoeppner, Berg’s father also “really connected” with the people he met on the trip.
Building community
Between the fundraising, missions trips, and the Show N’ Shine, the theme that Berg has inspired is one of community gathering.
It’s something that will continue this year with the third annual Danny Berg Show N’ Shine on July 27th at 12 p.m. in Morden Park.
Anyone wishing to register a vehicle for the show is invited to the opportunity for fellowship, connection, and, of course, cars.
Pre-registration is not required.
With files from Ty Hildebrand