Saturday, thirteen teams and many more volunteers spent
the morning racing around the Sebago Lakes region in the first annual Amazing
Chase sponsored by the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce.
The event was a spin off from The Amazing Race on CBS, where
challengers in teams of two complete tasks to get to the checkpoint first. In
The Amazing Chase, teams of four, compete in activities from singing songs and
dancing to climbing a rock wall or fishing for an object at the bottom of the
lake in Naples. Teams traveled from Gray to Naples and Limington to Windham to
answer trivia and compete in challenges.
“This was a fundraiser for the chamber. The money raised
helps us so we can do the great works we do branding the region and putting the
spotlight on the beautiful region we have here,” said Aimee Senator, executive
director of the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce.
“It was a huge logistical challenge. It was the first of
its kind and had never been done before,” she said. SmartHunts, the company that
ran the technology part of the race usually works with corporations and team
building events. This was the first time they had run a race with the general
public.
The winning team, Sloth Ninjas, made up of Sarah Romac,
Sandy Woznicki, Russ Boynton and Brooks Campana, won a stay and play package
worth over $2,500 including tickets to the Maine Brew Fest, overnight
accommodations at the Windham Microtel, kayaking for four from Sebago Trails
Paddling Company, four 1-hour massages from Freedom Massage & Wellness and
dinner for four at Franco’s Bistro.
Second place went to Headlight AV, who was one of the major sponsors for the event. They won a movie under the starts with all the audio visual equipment donated by Headlight Audio Visual. They donated the prize back to the chamber to be raffled off at another time.
Third place went to the Raymond Rockabillies who each won a leather messenger bag from Land Rover, another large sponsor, and Beats headphones donated by Headlight Audio Visual.
Other major sponsors were Sabre Yachats and Clark
Insurance.
One team was chauffeured around the region in a new Land
Rover. They were one of the first teams to register and were entered into a
drawing.
“We literally ran so much,” said Sandy Woznicki, who had
had just closed on a house and was moving out of her old place the same weekend
as the race. “We’re going back to move more stuff tonight.”
Another challenge for the event was to crowd fund for the
chamber’s non-profit Feed the Need, which raises money to help the 13 food
banks in the region. Any team who raised more than $200 earned an additional
500 points.
“The events attract more people and do better with a
charitable component to it,” said Senatore. Nine of the thirteen teams raised
$200 or more. Clark Insurance’s team was
the top fundraiser at $710. Gorham Savings Bank raised $400. Approximately
$2,000 was raised for Feed the Need. The chamber brought in $7,000 to be used
for its programs. “It was our goal to make sure the businesses get value in
addition to the region as a whole,” Senatore said.
Teams have already started planning their strategies for
next year and plan to bring more competition.
“It was fun for people. We achieved our mission and
people learned a lot of things about our region. It was an incredible and
memorable day that we can't wait to take to the next level in 2017!” said
Senatore.
For more information on the race or to reserve your spot
for next year, visit Amazing Chase Sebago Lakes Region on Facebook.
Third place - Raymond Rockabillies |
Second place team - Headlight AV |
Team Clark |
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