Peds in the Weeds
August 6, 2017

Peds in the Weeds is the annual Advocate Children’s Hospital picnic for the families of children who are or were patient at their pediatric cancer center. It was the 5th time that the MG Clubs of Chicago participated to give the children a ride in our MGs. Every year we’ve had, mostly, different MG models and different colors so that the children see and experience something new every year. The overall attendance for the picnic appeared a little bit less than previous years, but I think that we gave more rides than ever. Usually the picnic guests stroll around for a while and attend some activities while we don’t have so much to do. And then, it didn’t really started until after lunch. This year however, we had children riding right from the start, almost continu-ously. And after lunch there was a line and some families waited for 10 - 20 minutes for their favorite model or color MG.

The participants this year were, from left to right: Ray Costa with his 1952 Green TD, Jody Simons & Sparky and their 1965 Red Midget, Ray & Sue Hansen and Maggie, the 1976 Red MGB, Chuck & Joye McCallum with a 1962 Black MGA, and Dean & Kerry Hickenlooper with the 1979 Yellow MGB (Dean is shooting the photo). In the middle, next to Reinout Vogt, is our first ride of the day. Because her name was Emma, just like my MG, I asked her to be in the group photo with me.

Some of the children want to take a ride with a friend or sibling. When they’re small enough, two kids can sit on one MGB seat and buckle up in one MGB seatbelt. Dean had his autocross racing numbers on the doors, giving the B a sporty look. And because it also made a little bit more noise than the other MGs, kids quickly called it the ‘racing car’. This year the MGs were parked right next to the tent of the picnic registration tent (in the back ground in the photo) so that all guests saw the MG’s when they signed in. Perfect positioning that probably helped in giving more rides than other years.

There are several other activities at the picnic; photography, companion dogs, zip line, and a DJ. Some of the kids went to the face painter and came to our rides looking very nice. We always bring the CMGC and VMGCC canopies for shade or shelter in case it rains. Luckily, only a few drops fell, not even enough to get wet or turn on the windshield wipers. The previous two years, Ray brought his Morris Minor Woody station wagon and was able to give rides to an adult parent with a child (or even small families). This year, if a parent wanted to accompany a child, and we took them in one of the B’s with the child on the parent’s lap.

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