(Photos by Darr Hawthorne) • In it’s 24th year, Cruisin’ for a Cure is an annual Southern California charity event, initiated in 1999 by Debbie Baker, who was motivated to take action after her husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer and ultimately lost his life to the disease in 2009. The event’s goal is to build awareness about prostate cancer and providing free prostate screenings to help save men’s lives.

Cruisin’ for a Cure has grown to become the west coast’s largest one-day charity car show, featuring thousands of vehicles on display and over 150 vendors and exhibitors. Hot Rod owners can either drive their cars through the Orange County Fair & Event Center for a 1.5-mile cruise or simply park them for display.

One of the main objectives of the event is to offer free prostate screenings to men aged 40 plus, screenings include a simple blood test and an exam. These screenings have helped identify cancer in many men who might not have otherwise known about their condition.

The proceeds from the event go directly towards prostate cancer research at the KSK Cancer Center of Irvine, with the aim of contributing to finding a cure for the disease.

Here’s the first gallery of the Cruisers at this year’s Cruisin’ for a Cure!