Soap Box blessing is double winner

To the editor:

On Saturday morning John Grimm, president-elect of the Rotary Club of Cape Girardeau, began the annual Soap Box Derby by telling the young drivers, their pit crews and families that everyone who participates is a winner. How true that is.

Sunday's edition of the Southeast Missourian showed a photo of Robert Blessing as he raced down the hill to win the stock division. This earned him the chance to compete in the All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio, this summer. But the story behind his win Saturday is what qualifies him for a double winner, in my opinion.

Robert was slated to drive a super stock car. He and his stepfather, Owen Sandler, worked hours putting the car together and had left the assembly clinic on their way home to Friedheim. When another boy completed his stock car and got in, he was so large the cover had to be removed to get him out. Sandler's employer, Rotarian Robin Cole, suggested that Blessing might be willing to trade cars. Summoned on a cell phone, the Sandler family drove back to the assembly clinic. Cole explained that the other boy would not get to participate unless they traded cars. Without hesitation, Robert replied, "As long as I get to race."

And race he did, all the way to the winner's circle.

Melissa and Owen Sandler are raising a mighty fine young man. He is to be commended on his sportsmanship as well as congratulated on winning. Robert Blessing, you are a double winner.

MARY MILLER, Member and Past-President, Rotary Club of Cape Girardeau