KANSAS CITY, Mo. — This weekend, a local nonprofit teamed up with a south Kansas City church to prove that car shows can do more than showcase shiny rides — they can bring people together for a cause.
Breathe Easy International, a nonprofit supporting those with chronic lung conditions, partnered with United Believers Community Church for the “Car Show for Good.”
For founder and president Reuben Samuels, the mission is deeply personal. Samuels, who has cystic fibrosis, says the journey with a chronic illness can feel lonely.
Metro restaurants help as uncertainty continues for SNAP recipients
“It can feel very isolating. You can feel like you’re the only one,” Samuels said.
After receiving a double lung transplant — with help from the local car community — Samuels wanted to give back. Through events like this one, hosted with Unnaturally Aspirated, he’s raising money for others in need of transplants and other medical resources.
“Advocacy, patient education so that they understand their conditions better and how to thrive in them,” Samuels said. “We’re also building a module for high trauma medical staff to learn more ways to be resilient.”
But beyond fundraising, Samuels says it’s about connection.
“To feel like you’re a part of a community… even in chronic illness, and to feel seen and engaged. You’re not just cystic fibrosis or COPD, you’re a person.”
Lead Pastor Darron Edwards of United Believers Community Church says the event was about more than cars; it was about bringing the community together.
“We wanted to move from crisis and chaos to community,” Edwards said. “And what better way to do it than around cars, coffee, donuts, barbecue, and just good people showing love.”
For many attendees, it was a day of unity, hope and horsepower; a reminder that even in life’s toughest moments, Kansas City knows how to come together for good.
For more information on Breathe Easy International and Unnaturally Aspirated, visit their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
