– photo by nuttycake.com –
The Rest Haven Foundation’s second annual community fundraiser The Bed Races on Beacon, are returning to the streets of Sidney for another wild and wonderful day of hospital bed races. This year’s 100.3 The Q’s Bed Races on Beacon is again looking to be an exciting and fun day that has something for everyone to enjoy. Races are set to start down Sidney’s Beacon Ave. at 12 noon on Sunday August 16.
One of the crowd’s favourite events from last year’s races was the crazy costume competition. It rolls out like a mini-parade as the teams walk the street encouraging cheers from the crowds while being judged for their creative and hilarious themed costumes which can at times add to the challenge of racing a hospital bed down the street! “There were some really amazing costumes out there with a lot of thought and effort put into them which made it difficult for the judges” says Rest Haven Foundation Executive Director, Brenda Hennigar. A number of returning teams have said they started working on their costume ideas for this year’s event before they were finished last years!
Once the best dressed team has been decided, it’s time to get down to the serious fun of racing their hospital bed from the start line at 5th St to the finish line at 3rd. It’s not uncommon for teams en route to the finish line to be seen launching water balloons or attempting to distract their competitors with a bribe or a water canon! It’s all part of the fun. Panorama Rec will also be on site with the Kid’s Zone Obstacle course and face painting to ensure the kids are having fun.
Of the 20 teams competing in 2014, The Town of Sidney team was crowned Bed Races on Beacon Champions. There will be an increase in the number of teams this year looking to capture that title. One team in particular will be TD Canada Trust, runners up in 2014.
The Rest Haven Foundation came up with the Bed Races on Beacon concept in 2014. “It’s a way of providing a really fun community event that offers everyone the chance to take part, whether on a team or cheering for a team” says Hennigar.
Rest Haven Lodge provides complex and palliative care for their residents and families on the Saanich Peninsula and the Greater Victoria area. The foundation is very pleased to see the positive community response and support for the Bed Races on Beacon. Several of the corporate teams are returning for what they called “a great day of fun and positive team building”, while some teams are friends and family that have come together either just for the fun of it, or because they’ve experienced firsthand the importance of palliative care in our community.
For more information about the 100.3 The Q’s Bed Races on Beacon, email info@resthavenfoundation.com.
