Would You Act Like An ‘Idiot’ for a Good Cause?

Photos by Anna Fischer and ninoz

Well, here’s your chance to prove it.  The Idiotarod, a 5K Shopping Cart Race, is this Sunday starting at 11 a.m. on Riverside Drive.

Okay, THIS looks hilarious and cool!  If I don’t participate this year (anyone interested in joining Team Pollinate?),  I will certainly be at the Wedge Brewery on Sunday around 1 p.m. when these folks show up in their garb pushing carts.

From the website:
The Idiotarod is essentially the same thing [as the Alaskan Dog Sled race] except we’ll cover like a 5k and instead of dogs we use people (idiots) and instead of sleds we use shopping carts (super pods of wonder), which are extremely energy efficient by the way.  This first-annual Asheville Idiotarod benefits The 12 Day Project (more below).  You can still sign up!

AND, along the route, team challenges include creative ways to support: MANNA Food Bank, a community garden and a secret “Ninja Special” challenge.  This is awesome.

Very Serious Rules and Regs:

1. Sorry kids -You must be at least 16 years of age to participate.

2. All participants must sign our beautiful waiver.

3. All participants must be willing to lose their dignity.

4. All participants must read the official rules.

5. All participants must come up with a super cool name for their team.

6. All participants must agree to be responsible for their actions and carts through the course of the day.

7. All participants must be willing to dress up. (It’s not required, but honestly you might look a little weird if you show up in normal street clothing . . . just sayin’)

Each team must consist of 5 runners, one hammer or crow bar per person (or as close as possible) for the recycled building challenge (Ninja Challenge Revealed!), ten single dollar bills per team, a shopping cart and a shovel (for the community garden work). The race is limited to the first 100 teams.

The entry fee between November 17 and 22 is $100.00 per team ($20 per person).  Register here.

The 12 Day Project

The 12 Day Project, a new non-profit (I know I was also thinking ‘ANOTHER non-proft in Asheville?’ but this is an innovative concept, check it out.) helps structure and promote a wide range of community and non-profit based volunteer projects that take place on one weekend of every month. Volunteers donate a minimum of 6 hours of their time and skill set and in return they receive a 30 day benefit card that will provide them with discounts at 100’s of local stores, performance venues and art galleries in the Western North Carolina area. This is done in an effort to help stimulate and promote the local economy, develop public awareness and cultivate a stronger sense of community. Volunteers will be able to search hundreds of non-profit and community based projects by county, skill set and/or area of interest. There are also barter and free-cycle programs associated with the site.

Photos by Anna Fischer and ninoz