Fast cars and roaring engines are all part of race day, but so is the risk of noise-induced hearing loss. This spring, the Pensacola Five Flags Sertoma Club made hearing protection a priority by bringing free Amplified Hearing resources directly to local families during two popular racing events.

In March, club members visited opening season events at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola and Down-to-Earth Mud Racing in Milton, Fla., helping ensure that children could safely enjoy the excitement of race day. The club distributed brand-new hearing protection headphones to children ages 0–10 during events at both venues, while also providing free hearing amplifiers for adults at the Milton race. By the end of both events, the club had distributed nearly 75 devices to community members.

For the Five Flags Sertoma Club, this project reflects its ongoing commitment to improving the speech and hearing health of the greater Pensacola area. While helping individuals with hearing challenges remains a key part of the club's mission, members also recognize that preventing hearing loss, especially in children, is just as important.

The success of the events was also made possible by the enthusiastic support of the teams at Five Flags Speedway and Down-to-Earth Mud Racing, including David and Sharen Phillips, who welcomed the club and helped connect volunteers with race attendees. The biggest winners, however, were the children and their families. Young race fans were excited to receive headphones that not only protected their hearing during the races but could also be used later with tablets and other devices.

Projects like this demonstrate how a simple act of service can make a lasting difference. By raising awareness about hearing protection and providing families with the tools they need, the Five Flags Sertoma Club is helping ensure that children and families can enjoy today's experiences while protecting their hearing for the future.

To learn more about the club or support its future community projects, visit the Five Flags Sertoma Club on Facebook.

Special thanks to Eddie Smet for sharing the background information and photographs for this article.