KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — A turtle derby might not be the fastest race in Kingsport, but it is definitely in the running for being the cutest.

The Kingsport Lions Club hosted its annual Turtle Derby on Saturday at J. Fred Johnson Stadium, marking the 79th year of the fundraiser event.

This year, the Lions Club posthumously honored longtime member Bob Miller.

Organizer Wayne Garland told News Channel 11 that the annual derby raises funds for the Lions Club’s many projects and initiatives in the community.

“This is one of our two major fundraisers for the Kingsport Lions Club,” he said. “We’ve done it every year since 1947. The other one is our golf tournament that we do in September, but we always have the Turtle Derby around Memorial Day weekend, plus or minus a week. And the turtles are sponsored by individuals and businesses around Kingsport.”

Garland described some of the club’s community projects that raised money will go toward.

“All of the money goes to our Lions Club projects, such as our conservation program, where we screen the vision of students in the city schools and also preschools to try to catch vision problems early when they can be treated better, and help the children do better in school.”

“We’ve done a lot of disaster relief this year with Hurricane Helene. And all of the money that’s raised from the public goes to the projects. None of it goes to administrative costs.”

Information about the Lions Club of Kingsport can be found at e-clubhouse.org/sites/kingsporttn.