An amazing event took place in Maple Ridge today. The Amazing Adventure, a fundraiser for the Salvation Army, The Caring Place, took 11 teams from point to point, activity to activity, throughout the day on Saturday.

Eleven teams entered the race, and none of them knew of the destinations of each leg until the race was started and they began to earn clues.

In the first task teams had to collect a basket of vegetables at the Haney Farmers Market.

Next, they picked up a monkey and diaper coupon from Monkey Business Kids, and then a case of water from Royal LePage.

All of these items were then delivered by foot to The Caring Place. Once at The Caring Place one person from each team had to assemble three Cold Wet Weather bed rolls to the satisfaction of a front line worker before earning the next clue.

The race proceeded to Whonnock Lake Park for a paddling challenge on the lake and a hockey shoot-out challenge with the Ridge Meadows Flames.

From there participants travelled to Kanaka Creek Bell-Irving Fish Hatchery. Once there, two members of the team embarked on a 30-minute hike from the 256th Trail Head to Cliff Park. During the hike the other members of each team drove to Cliff Park and learned a choreographed routine from Fit Republic Zumba in order to receive the next clue.

Next stop was Wild Play. At Wild Play teams were harnessed together and searched for 10 Monikido monkeys around the park.

The final leg of the race was back at Memorial Peace Park for a five-lap race around the park from The Act to the Bandstand.

The Amazing Adventure was born from The Caring Place staff members’ affection for the popular TV show Amazing Race.

Amazing Race is a reality TV game show in which teams of two people, who have some form of a relationship, race around the world in competition with other teams. Contestants strive to arrive first at “pit stops” using various forms of transportation.

The Caring Place staff thought it would be unique to bring something similar to the Amazing Race to Maple Ridge, said public relations coordinator Amelia Norrie, who is the event director.

Proceeds from the Amazing Adventure are earmarked for The Salvation Army Caring Place Sonia’s Cradle program and specifically, its youth camp.

The camp focuses on at risk youth, who may not have the type of home-life that would allow them to go to summer camp.

“We try to identify these kids and send them to camp in the summer, so that they can just ‘be kids’ for a change,” Norrie said.

Stay tuned to The TIMES online and print editions to see what team one the first annual Amazing Adventure.