BOARDMAN — In numerous instances, special and difficult challenges that children face pull at many people’s heartstrings, and in some cases, they bring in hundreds of cars.

“I’m just happy we have her. I don’t care about any medical issues,” Jeannie Salem of Columbiana said about her great-granddaughter, Aadalynn Bailey, 11 months, of Lisbon.

No doubt countless others share Salem’s sentiments about Aadalynn, who was born prematurely at 26 weeks, weighed about 20 ounces and is facing several medical challenges such as possible vision problems.

Many others made their feelings about wanting to help the infant known via being part of the Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club’s 46th annual Cars in the Park fundraiser Sunday in Boardman Park.

Proceeds will go toward helping defray some of the infant’s medical expenses, Amy Suszynski, club president, noted.

Specifically, Aadalynn has certain kidney problems, and her brain has not fully developed. In addition, part of her brain’s corpus callosum is thin, Abigail Bowers, 16, of Lisbon, who is the infant’s mother, said.

The corpus callosum is a large region of neural fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres. That portion of the brain plays a pivotal role in governing coordinated function, along with facilitating the sharing of information and communication between its two sides.

Aadalynn had little movement during the first days of her life, so her mother underwent an ultrasound procedure, which revealed a lack of amniotic fluid, which is a clear, yellowish fluid that protects a developing fetus in the amniotic sac during pregnancy. Consequently, Bowers had a series of tests and an emergency C-section at St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital, she said.

Despite Aadalynn’s challenges, she is reaching certain developmental milestones — if not exceeding them.

“The doctor said she shouldn’t be doing some things she’s doing. She doesn’t want to crawl, but she wants to walk and run,” Aadalynn’s aunt, Mara Bowers, 21, of Lisbon, said, adding, “She’s the light of my life. I was there every minute.”

“She is such a happy, strong baby,” Abigail Bowers added.

More than 500 new, vintage and classic cars filled the section of the park near the Maag Outdoor Amphitheater, which made it the club’s largest show, Suszynski said. Perhaps the oldest among the vehicles was Jim Sause’s light-green rebuilt 1923 Ford Model T Bucket.

“I found it on Craigslist. I traded in my motorcycle for it,” Sause, of Youngstown, said.

The vintage vehicle, which was rebuilt in 1972 and is equipped with a small-block Chevrolet engine and turbo transmission, has a paltry 7,058 miles, he added.

It’s also a source of great enjoyment for Sause, his wife and two grandchildren, 3 and 8, to get around, he continued.

“I take it to a lot of car shows,” Sause added.

The restoration process that Lisa Berry’s 1956 two-seat Ford Thunderbird underwent nearly parallels the famous 1964 Beach Boys song “Fun, Fun, Fun.”

“My dad decided to take my T-bird away from me and had it restored in 1995,” Berry, of Canfield, recalled. “My parents bought it when I was 18 years old at the time.”

The sage-green, eye-catching vehicle boasts a shiny 312-cubic centimeter engine and hardtop with portholes. In addition, it was a national first prize recipient 30 years ago from the Antique Automobile Club of America, Berry said, adding that she drove it for the first time in October after it had spent most of the time in a trailer.

A sampling of other vehicles on display Sunday included a cream-colored 1930 Model A Ford, a 1980 Chevrolet Camaro, a white 1968 Plymouth Road Runner, a 1978 Austin Mini Cooper and an olive-green 1964 Chevrolet Bel Air.

Since 2008, the Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club has raised more than $259,000 for area children who have suffered catastrophic injuries or have incurred expensive medical problems and bills, Suszynski noted. Also, in the last 17 years, the club has donated about $50,000 to assist Hospice of the Valley, she said.

In addition, Sunday’s car show featured basket and 50/50 raffles, a kids corner, face painting and other activities.

The Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club is looking for new members, Suszynski said. To join or make a donation, call her at 330-716-3974, or email amysuszynski@yahoo.com.