A day at the races in Buffalo

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For a new fundraising ministry, members of the Salvation Army’s Buffalo N.Y., Corps got some inspiration from the Midwest.

“The Minneapolis Corps was doing a day of events and competition across the city,” says Laurie Krajna, development director of the Salvation Army Buffalo Area Services. “Members of the Empire Division went to shadow the event to see how they did it and how we would change it if we brought it here.”

So, in 2016, “Buffalo’s Most Amazing Race” made its debut. It takes its name from “The Amazing Race,” the long–running TV show where teams compete, travel the world, meet challenges, and learn about the history, customs, and traditions of each place they visit. To participate in Buffalo’s Most Amazing Race, teams raise money for the corps from their friends and family. The team that completes the challenges and crosses the finish line first receives a cash prize. There are also prizes for the team who raises the largest amount of money for The Salvation Army.

Teams travel the city to complete a mix of physical challenges, like food tasting or rock wall climbing, along with activities that educate and inform people about The Salvation Army. For example, one activity requires a team to learn some history on the Army’s Donut Lassies. When they have memorized it, they must eat powdered donut holes and whistle before moving on to the next event.

Other corps programs also benefit from the events. A team will don hard hats and gloves to assemble a birdhouse from a kit donated by a local hardware store. The finished birdhouses will then go to children in the summer camp program to be painted and decorated. At another stop, they will learn how to properly prepare a grocery bag for distribution at a food bank. They’ll also follow approved charts and rules to successfully meet the nutritional needs of families.

“The Salvation Army has a huge presence in the city, but I had never been involved with them in the past,” says Steven Salcedo, who, along with his brother Jaime, participated as the “Colombian Exchange,” a nod to their Colombian heritage. The brothers have won Buffalo’s Most Amazing Race three times.

“We’re both big fans of ‘The Amazing Race,’ and The Salvation Army does a great job of bringing in parts of the city for events, like bowling alleys, parks, and small businesses. It’s like getting a tour of your own city,” says Jaime. “The competition is great, but the important thing is that we’re raising so much money for a great organization like The Salvation Army.”

“After three victorious races, we’ve talked about hanging up our cleats, but we would like to still be involved in the race in other ways, such as volunteering or hosting the challenges,” says Steven.

Bringing in a younger audience like Steven and Jaime is one of the important reasons Buffalo’s Most Amazing Race was organized, says Krajna.

“The average 30–something millennial may not know much about The Salvation Army,” says Krajna. “But a day of activities like this engages that age group and educates them about our mission. Then, we can reach out to them when we do toy collecting or need volunteers during Christmas.”

This year, Buffalo’s Most Amazing Race will take place on Saturday, July 22, 2023. “Every corps does a gala, a dinner, or a golf tournament for a fundraiser. We wanted to do something different for Buffalo,” says Krajna. “This shows that we’re an exciting organization that promotes the community in ways that they would never expect.”

Tips to Prepare for a Race

Train beforehand: Run or walk several times a week to get yourself ready. This will help you determine how your body reacts to exercise, and what it needs to do its best, such as snacks to fuel up, or light vs. warm clothing for comfort.

Raise Funds: Ask your friends, family, and colleagues to support your efforts. Let them know about the race and the cause or charity you are running for.

Drink up: Always hydrate before, during, and after a race. Find out if you can carry water with you or if there will be designated water stops along the way.

Set your goals: Things beyond your control, such as bad weather, can throw off your running goals. Don’t get disappointed if you don’t meet your expected time. Sometimes, just finishing the race is enough.

Relax and enjoy: Listen to music, stretch, or do breathing exercises to keep your nerves at bay before the run. But remember that jitters are normal; they might even work as an adrenaline boost for better performance. And most importantly, remember to have fun!

— by HUGO BRAVO