Redbank Valley Public Library hosts successful Amazing Race Fundraiser

NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. by: Cecelia Harmon (RVO) – Early Saturday morning, 8 different teams lined up at Gumtown Park to receive their first clue of the 3rd annual Redbank Valley Public Library Amazing Race. For the next few hours, they ran all over New Bethlehem stopping at local business to complete challenges to earn their next clue.

The goal of the race is to solve all of the challenges expediently for the chance of being the first team to cross the finish line. However, there are some twists and turns along the way. Before the race even starts, teams can purchase “Fast Passes” so they can skip any challenge that might be lengthy. Teams can also purchase “Speed Bumps” and “Detours” against any other team of their choosing. Speed bumps delay the start time of the opposing team, while detours force the other team to finish an extra challenge before being given their first clue. 

After the race was finished, the teams were invited back to Gumtown Park for a delicious hot dog lunch paid for by donation. The winners of each team category were announced and prizes were handed out.

The Amazing Race acts as a fundraiser for the library; it is a family friendly event that everyone is encouraged to participate in. To keep things fair, there are different categories of teams: Family, Youth Partners, Adult Partners, and Team.

The businesses who participated as pitt stops this year were:

• Auto Parts Services Inc.
• Rest Assured
• RMS Furniture
• Debz Twisted Scissors
• First United National Bank
• S&T Bank
• Valley Flowers and Gifts
• New Bethlehem Police Department
• Redbank Chevrolet
• Spero Group LLC
• Redbank Valley Public Library
• Pat Merwin Realty
• Hager Law Office

Joy Horner, the library board president, has been instrumental in bringing this event together, this year and in the past:

“The library is always excited to put together an opportunity for the community to have fun while also supporting the library, and The Amazing Race is a perfect example of that!  I love to see the variety of teams formed from friends, to families, teammates and even coworkers coming together for this event. It is also amazing to see so many businesses excited to open their doors to the competitors.  Everybody that participates as a racer, a pitt stop, or a volunteer always tells us that it was a fun morning and they look forward to the next year! We are all so thankful to the businesses that participated as pitt stops and to those that donated towards our prizes and food costs, this event would not be possible without them!  I love watching the teams as they compete in challenges and hearing them talk about their experiences over their snacks at the finish line!” 

For the full album of pictures of the event: https://bit.ly/2B4UgAL

* Photos & Video courtesy of TechReady Professionals & RedbankValley.org

For more information about the Redbank Valley Public Library, please visit their Facebook page: Facebook.com/rvlibrary

Thank you to Library Staff and Board of Directors: Jaylene Smith, Amy Toth, Vicki Hoffman, Debbie Troupe, Joy Horner, Kim Magagnotti, Kristen Landers, Ragan Griffin, Amanda Cserr, Mike Moore, and Joyce Traister