Editor's note: This is the first of several stories about a Cape Girardeau sister and brother competing this week in the All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio. April Little is 13 and her brother, Jordan, is 9.

Jordan Little and his sister, April Little, are in Akron, Ohio where they will compete in the 70th annual All-American Soap Box Derby on Saturday.

Watch April and Jordan Little at the Soap Box Derby

AKRON, Ohio -- April and Jordan Little enjoyed a police escort Monday during the opening ceremonies of the 70th annual All-American Soap Box Derby.

Their mother, Beth, said the sirens from the escorts, which started at 9 a.m., didn't stop until well into the afternoon.

"You could tell the ones that were really enjoying themselves, too," Beth said. "They really laid into the horns and did all sorts of patterns."

After checking in, April and Jordan each received a welcome package that contained a rain jacket, a hooded sweatshirt, several race T-shirts and a wristwatch, among other things.

They both donned their official beige All-American Soap Box Derby shirts and joined nearly 600 other participants in Akron's Lock 3 Park for an opening address by former Notre Dame football coach Gerry Faust.

Faust's 15-minute speech stressed the importance of loving one's friends and family and never giving up. To reinforce his message, he told an inspirational anecdote about a child coming out of a coma and another about a player he cut from the team who refused to quit.

He told the children to focus on doing their personal best instead of obsessing about winning.

Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic welcomed the contestants, congratulated them on their achievements and told their families to "spend a lot of money" before leaving the city.

After Plusquellic's exit, the contestants released red and blue balloons they had been given to mark the opening of the event.

Jordan, already perceptive as a 9-year-old, was not sure the balloon launch was a good idea.

"I feel sorry for the poor sap that's gotta clean up all that rubber," he said.

pwylie@semissourian.com

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