Root Cellar Food and Wellness Hub hosting Race for Hunger in July to raise funds for programs

By KENDALL KING, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on May 14, 2022.

The course is set, now all it needs are racers.

Medicine Hat’s Root Cellar Food and Wellness Hub is looking for 10 teams of two to participate in the inaugural Root Cellar Race for Hunger, taking place July 9.

Inspired by the Amazing Race, the event will take teams to different sites across Medicine Hat and area. Teams will work through 10 challenges which test the mind and body. The first team to cross the finish line will win two prizes valued at $2,000 and the title of Race for Hunger champs.

“We just wanted to create an annual event that was fun, that we could have whether there were COVID restrictions or not, and something that could get the community together,” Melissa Mullis, Root Cellar interim executive director, told the News.

“It’s a huge community collaboration. There’s tons of local businesses and organizations which have stepped up to support us, so I think it’s going to be really unique and fun.”

Mullis also believes the event will be an engaging way for the community to show their support of the Root Cellar, as all funds raised will go toward local programming.

“I think what’s unique about this event is it’s going to be live streamed all day,” said Mullis. “The racers are going to be able to build hype, and then their friends, family and coworkers can watch them. It’s interactive, so they can phone in and pay to either give another team a disadvantage or help their team.”

Community sponsorship of teams is encouraged, particularly as the entry fee is $1,000 per team.

“It’s a little bit more than just an entry fee,” Mullis said. “It’s is a donation to the Root Cellar. And in the $1,000 fee, teams are also getting meals, a big backpack full of swag and team T-shirts.

“The way we thought about it was, if each person on a team raised $500, that’s a pretty easy goal to hit.”

Already there are several prospective teams, Mullis said. She encourages anyone who loves a challenge to apply by submitting a one to three minute video to events@mhfoodbank.com. In the video teams are asked to introduce themselves, explain what they love best about their community and summarize the reasons they should be chosen. The 10 teams selected will be revealed later this spring.

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