Participants of the Amazing Race for Hunger 2022 pose for a group photo (photo Courtesy Root Cellar Food & Wellness Hub)

By Brendan Miller

Amazing Race for Hunger applications now open

Apr 12, 2023 | 4:53 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Root Cellar Food & Wellness Hub is looking for people to register for the second annual Amazing Race for Hunger fundraiser happening in August.

Last year, teams competed in both physical and mental challenges that took them to several locations in Medicine Hat and Redcliff.

This year organizers are raising the bar and including new challenges and obstacles that racers will have to overcome. The day-long fundraiser is based on the popular television show “The Amazing Race.”

Participants visit several stops around town solving problems and overcoming unknown challenges.

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The Amazing Race for Hunger debuted last year with 10 teams after the Root Cellar decided to diversify its fundraising events.

“We wanted to find a way to get different people involved in the community and really have fun, like I think fundraising should be fun. I think it’s a great way for the community to get involved in what we do and learn about what we do and have fun at the same time,” says Melissa Mullis, executive director of the Root Cellar Food & Wellness Hub.

Chelsea Desharnais and her partner Ashley Hanson certainly had fun. The pair finished first in last year’s race and Desharnais plans to register for this year’s event.

“We had a ton of fun, we got a lot of work done, we covered a lot of the city and it was a really great time,” says Desharnais.

“You can definitely expect to cover to do some walking to do some running to do some brain puzzles. Last year we did some tire changing on some semi trucks which was very hard, we did some paddling down the river without paddles.”

The race is set for August 19 and will be live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube. The Root Cellar is accepting applications for the Amazing Race for Hunger now. Only 20 teams of two people will be chosen for the event following a vote by a committee.

“There’s a lot more mental games than there were last year but there are also a lot more physical games. So we added in probably about seven more stops than we had last year so it’s a little bit crazier. Transportation is a little more crazier this year and a little bit less predictable so I have no idea how it’s going to go and that’s the coolest part,” says Mullis.

A call centre will be open all day accepting donations during the event. People can even donate to add roadblocks or make other teams freeze in their steps.

“The name of the game is roadblocks. You can reach out to your community, they can support you the day of the race by challenging and putting money toward other teams to slow them down, just don’t vote against me,” says Desharnais.

This year’s winner will be awarded $4,000 and prizes will be given out throughout the day.

You can find the application to register on Root Cellar’s website. The deadline for applications is 4:30 p.m. on May 1.