SUBSCRIBE! Sign up for our daily newsletter and never miss a story!

Image From Facebook/MHRootCellar
Livestreaming on July 9

Racers at the starting line for Root Cellar Race for Hunger

Jul 7, 2022 | 2:01 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Root Cellar Food & Wellness Hub’s amazing weekend is almost here.

On Saturday at 9 a.m., 10 teams of two will start at the Redcliff Youth Centre, racing from there and through Medicine Hat in the inaugural Race for Hunger.

Patterned after the TV show “The Amazing Race” the pairs will visit places like Medicine Hat Brewing Company, Redcliff Bakery, Badlands Training Centre and SixOneSix Entertainment.

At each location, the teams will have to complete challenges to keep racing to the next location.

“The day is a mix of mental and physical challenges. It’s going to be a hot one so they’re really going to have to push themselves,” says Root Cellar executive director Melissa Mullis. “But the prize is a $4,000 prize for first place so they’re going to have to push themselves and they’ll deserve the win for sure.”

Mullis and Hudson from MY96 will be livestreaming all day on the Root Cellar’s Facebook page for fans to cheer on their favourite team.

That’s where the real fun comes in, says Mullis.

“It’s kind of like ‘The Amazing Race’ meets ‘The Hunger Games.’ So everybody can call in and they can freeze,” she says. “So if you call 403-528-4313 extension 1 you can phone in and you know if you see your team, your favourite team that’s having a little bit of struggle, you can phone in and freeze the person ahead them and give them a one-minute penalty.”

A 50-50 draw is also taking place. Tickets are available now until 3 p.m on race day when they’ll draw the winning ticket live on Facebook.

Mullis says it’s been a big community collaboration to put the event together to support the Root Cellar’s programming and its clients.

“We’re really, really grateful for all the support from the racers, the donors and also from the race stops. Everybody has really come together for our families.”

Mullis was named executive director of the Root Cellar today, after serving on an interim basis for the past few months.