Although not a traditional sign of spring, Chestermere’s Rotary club opened registration March 20 for their annual fundraiser, the Rotary Amazing Race.
This year the registration process has been simplified from past years.
“We’re accepting registrations in person by cash and cheque or by credit card,” said Rotarian Jason McKee, “people can also register through our new website.”
The club made these changes to make administration of the process easier and to remove past hindrances from registration.
Like last year, teams of four are invited to register to compete in the race which, for those unfamiliar to the event sees teams racing to complete challenges set up throughout the city.
To register, a team captain, or as they are being called for the race the team designated driver, registers online or in person.
“Only that person needs to sign up their team,” said McKee.
The designated driver will be given the fundraising pledge packages for the team to use to collect their donations for the Rotary club.
The registration fee is $200 per team, $50 less than last year.
The first 20 teams that meet the minimum $200 registration will be entered in the race.
McKee is encouraging people to try and raise as much as they can in donations.
“We have special prizes that are surprises for the teams who raise the most money,” he said.
Different from past years, there will be no in race bonuses or advantages given for different levels of fundraising.
The deadline to register is Sept. 15, one week before the event which is scheduled for Sept. 23.
The race will get started at noon at John Peake Park competitors will cross the finish line at the Whitecappers Association.
After the race there will be an awards presentation, dinner and dance at the Whitecappers, ending at 9 p.m.
Organizers have brought back the theme from the second Amazing Race for this year.
“We’re going with the theme that we had in the second year…to have a running challenge…that underscores the rest of the individual challenge locations,” said McKee.
While they aren’t releasing details of the challenges yet, they will all connect back to the overarching running challenge.
Another change to the challenges will be the option to skip them and accept a set time penalty instead.
“If you feel that a challenge is to risky or for any reason,” said McKee.
“There’ll be no pressure for people to take part in any challenges that…they may be uncomfortable with,” he said.
McKee said that all of the challenges are being designed to be fun.
“All of the challenges this year are totally designed around pleasure, satisfaction, adventure and a nice clean race,” he said.
That being said, they are pushing the envelope to make the challenges as adventurous as possible this year.
Organizers are hoping that these changes will lead to a really fun and competitive time trial experience.
While much of the race is planned, McKee said that the Rotary club is always interested in hearing from people with ideas for challenges or who would like to host a challenge at their establishment.
“If there are small business owners or sports teams or any interested groups that think they can host a fun challenge they can reach out to us to share their idea,” said Mckee.
To register or to contact a member of the Rotary Club for more information on the Amazing Race go to www.rotarychestermere.org and follow the links.
