Feature News

CARNEGIE, Pa., Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Western Pennsylvania Division of The Salvation Army is proud to present its first annual "Most Amazing Race." Slated for Saturday, September( )19th, chaired by Pittsburgh's mayor, Luke Ravenstahl and patterned after a well known scavenger television hunt/race show, "The Most Amazing Race" combines physical and mental challenges that include a host of whacky team competition. Beginning and ending at Pittsburgh's Southside Works Town Square, contestants will converge all over Pittsburgh in an effort to win the ultimate prize.

The Salvation Army has accepted 25 teams of two people who must present a minimum of $500.00 in order to qualify for the race. There are two ways to receive top prizes in "Most Amazing Race." The first team to successfully complete all challenges receives a $5,000 cash prize, courtesy of PNC Bank. The team raising the most funds above and beyond the $500.00 minimum will also receive a special prize.

From the starting line, teams will be given a clue leading them to a checkpoint and they will follow clues until the end of the race. They can use an approved transportation mode to navigate to different locations throughout the race. Upon arriving at the various checkpoints throughout the day, they are required to complete a task in order to receive the next clue. Tasks are either physically or mentally challenging, and could involve tedious activities, trivial contests or food challenges.

Photo ops for the day's festivities and competition are:

    8:30 am - 9:00 am      Southside Works Town Square Welcome from Pittsburgh
                           Mayor Luke Ravenstahl; Melissa Wagner, Most Amazing
                           Race Coordinator; Major Sandra Jackson, The
                           Salvation Army's Allegheny County Coordinator

    9: 15 am               Southside Works REI - outside
                           Racers line up

    9:30 am                REI rock climbing wall.
                           Whistle blows - first challenge begins

    3:00 pm                Southside Works Town Square
                           First teams begin arriving at Town Square, jumping
                           on a Salvation Army shield in the middle of the
                           fountain area

    5:30 pm                Southside Works Town Square
                           Major Lynette Reel, The Salvation Army's Associate
                           Divisional Commander presents $5,000 check to the
                           winning team
     

Both a church and a social service organization, The Salvation Army began in London, England in 1865. Today, it provides critical services in 118 countries worldwide. The 28-county Western Pennsylvania Division serves thousands of needy families through a wide variety of support services. To learn more about The Salvation Army in Western Pennsylvania, log onto www.salvationarmy-wpa.org. The Salvation Army . . . doing the most good for the most people in the most need.