Robotic turtles race to raise money for locals in need

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – The Youngstown Lions Club held its 62nd annual Turtle Derby earlier Saturday.

People of all ages raced the 3D-printed robotic turtles.

It’s the club’s biggest fundraising event of the year.

The turtles took off from inside Penguin City Brewing Co.

All the money raised from the event goes to helping people in need across the Mahoning Valley.

“It’s our biggest fundraising event. We do it to fund our sight-saving initiatives. We try to sponsor initiatives to promote vision screening and provide eyeglasses to those who need them,” said Gina DeGenova, with the Lions Club.

When the fundraiser started over six decades ago, the club raced live turtles. DeGenova says they made the switch to mechanical turtles about ten years ago.

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