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Pushing a bed for Santa's cause

Flagstaff's annual bed race is the biggest fundraiser for Toys for Tots, which helps Santa Claus provide toys for children in need at the holidays

By BETSEY BRUNER
Community Editor
Thursday, September 11, 2008

This weekend will mark the 14th year energetic volunteers will be pushing old-style hospital beds along a race course down West Aspen Avenue in front of Flagstaff City Hall. They'll be racing to raise money to buy holiday toys for children in need through the local Toys for Tots program.

Last year, the Flagstaff Community Toys for Toys Organization raised $17,000 to purchase 80,000 toys, which were distributed to 28,000 children in the northern Arizona region. The Flagstaff bed race has had many names through the years and is dubbed the Marine Corps League/Toys for Tots Bed Race this year.

The event began in 1994 as a benefit for a number of small charities. In 1997, it was rescued from oblivion by the San Francisco Peaks -- Marine Corps League Detachment, a group of retired Marines who decided to use the bed race as an annual funding project for the league's entrusted charity, the Toys for Tots campaign.

Bed race participants train to compete in five-person teams (four pushers, one rider) and are required to push the beds as fast as possible the distance of football field, give or take a few yards.

Teams must also maneuver through an obstacle course before the final push to the finish line. The course is always changing and never disclosed until race time.

Originally buying holiday toys for children in five counties, this year's local Toys for Tots drive has scaled back the area that it will cover.

"The event has gotten larger, as far as the activities at Wheeler Park," said Terre Reinhardt, event coordinator. "We're modifying our region. We will continue to do Supai, but we're just going to do bigger and better for the kids in Coconino County."

The winning bed race team has historically received a prize of a travel package to the national bed race championships.

If you go...

14th annual Marine Corps League/Toy for Tots Bed Races

Saturday

--Bed Race parade, 10 a.m., West Aspen Avenue, between Humphreys and Sitgreaves.

--Bed Race preliminaries, approximate start at 11:30 a.m., West Aspen Avenue, in front of Flagstaff City Hall, 211 W. Aspen Ave.

--Vendors and entertainment: More than 20 arts and crafts vendors, six food vendors, live music (Spokes Band, with local musician Jim De Blois) and DJ Walt, Kids Korner, arts and crafts, face painting, Ferris wheel, carousel, sports simulators, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wheeler Park, across from Flagstaff City Hall

--Admission: free to the public

Sunday

--Bed Race championship round, noon, in front of Flagstaff City Hall, West Aspen Avenue

--Vendors, live entertainment (Gypsy Blue, Midnight Howlers), Kids Korner, arts and crafts, face painting, Ferris wheel, carousel, sports simulators, about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wheeler Park, across from Flagstaff City Hall

--Admission free to the public

To find out how you can help Toys for Tots, call Terre Reinhardt at 527-3887

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