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The 2016 Southern Ontario Amazing Race will run the weekend of June 3-5, 2016.

2016 marks 13 years of the race and like other years will host twenty teams of two on an adventure race across Southern Ontario.

The application period begins on November 15th and runs until January 15th. To apply watch our website and social media for updates and link to the official registration page.

About the Southern Ontario Amazing Race

The Southern Ontario Amazing Race (SOAR) is a two day adventure competition modeled after the TV show The Amazing Race. Twenty teams of two, race around Southern Ontario competing in challenges of all sorts that test racers’ mental and physical strengths. Racers collect pledges prior to the event for The Children’s Foundation. The teams that bring in the most pledges are given tokens that help them during the race. Shortcuts allow teams to skip an entire challenge, Tune-Ups give teams a hint or head-start at a challenge and Yields allow a team to force a following team to wait 15 minutes at the Yield sign. In the 12 years of the race’s existence, teams have raised $800,000 dollars!

About The Children’s Foundation of Guelph Wellington

The Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington helps children and youth reach their full potential through programs that support their intellectual, emotional and physical well-being. We have helped thousands of children by providing financial assistance for sports, arts activities and summer camp; scholarships; memorable Christmas experiences; and breakfast, lunch or snack programs at schools. These children are currently in family situations that limit their ability to access these opportunities.

For more information on The Children’s Foundation visit www.childrensfoundation.org

01. Jake & Paul (Winners)
02. Kylie & Tim (Top Fundraisers)
03. Crystal & Heather
04. Sabina & Ben / Brian & Doug
06. Janine & Mark
07. April & Sarah (Biggest Movers)
08. Joel & Sam
09. Andrei & Kirsti
10. Erin & Jenn
11. Michael & Mike
12. Rhonda & Rachael / Melissa & Michelyn / Leona & Carol / Kelly & Jennifer / Katelyn & D’Arcy / Glen & Daryl
18. Chris & Anna

01. Crystal & Heather
02. Andrei & Kristi
03. Mark & Janine
04. Doug & Brian
05. Tim & Kylie
06. Glen & Daryl
07. Jake & Paul
08. Katelyn & Darcy
09. Kelly & Jennifer
10. Leona & Carol
11. Rhonda & Rachael
12. Erin & Jenn
13. Chris & Anna
14. Joel & Sam
15. Sabina & Ben
16. Gordon & Rob
17. Michael & Mike
18. Melissa & Michelyn
19. April & Sarah

Make sure to follow @soamazingrace on Twitter and Instagram using #SOARace2015 to see how our racers finish on day two!

Think about those months that money is a little tight for you and you need to decide whether you really can afford that vacation or a new pair of jeans. Now imagine if the decision was whether to pay rent or buy groceries for your family.

Last year, the average household income of families assisted by the Children’s Foundation’s Grants Program was $17,000. Those decisions are real and constant for many families in our community. These families include parents going through divorce with no support system, dealing with an illness or death in the family, the loss of job, teens living on their own and many other circumstances.

Whatever the family circumstance is that is limiting a child’s access to important childhood needs, we help provide consistency, ‘interventions” to help focus / re-focus lives, basic needs as well as things that are part of the joy of childhood. This is provided through our programs that provide financial assistance for sports, music and camp, student nutrition programs, scholarships and gifts and groceries for the Christmas season.

All of these programs work together to even the playing field for these kids and all are powered by our supporters and in a hugely by the funds raised by the Southern Ontario Amazing Race.

“I have had families say “so I can really sign them up [for sports]? I don’t have to pay it back?” I tell them “No, it’s all taken care of”. Families are in shock and tell me that this is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for them.” – Frances Livingstone, Community Resource Centre Fergus

These experiences and success stories would not happen without SOAR. Each year SOAR helps more children have fun, be healthy and have hope for a brighter future. Thank you!

Jay and I have raced together in a number of adventure races that last 36, 48, or more hours over the years. We have bonded a great deal and have been through a lot of trials and tribulations throughout, from Jay wanting to punch me in the stomach, to Jay being the only thing helping to keep me going and based in reality. The Southern Ontario Amazing Race while not as physically taxing as a multi sport adventure race, was often more mentally taxing in that you had to be thinking strategy of which team was going to do what, and how to solve all those puzzles and problems. We had to work together and be on the same page more so than any other race. We had to laugh things off and go out of our way to be supportive of each other. In our first race together we were in first at the end of the first day, and early on in the second day we found ourselves in last. We could have been angry at each other, but through a positive outlook and team work, we ended up 6th that day.

In every race, we chose to be to be social for two reason, one we are social people, and two, it was way more fun. Some teams over the years, seemingly chose to be grumpy, but I noticed the ones that got the most out of it, were good natured, happy people who were looking for a great experience.

The only problem I have with SOAR is that it won’t let you race in it more than three times, and under special anniversary conditions four times. I feel so selfish saying that, but SOAR is such a high quality fun race that I feel no shame in saying I want more. I would race in this race with no prospects to win anything just to participate in the race. The memories and stories from this race are rich rewards themselves. More often than not I am recounting to my wife and pointing out that I did a challenge over there. We raced over in that park. This is where we got a ride from a guy with a rusty machete. This is where a woman gave us a ride who thought the devil sent us. So many memories and so many smiles. The prizing is unreal compared to any other race that I have been in. I have won a paddle here, a bag there, but never that amount of money in gift vouchers that you can win through SOAR.

My overall impression of SOAR is that it is a meticulously well planned out race by caring race directors whose numbers grow daily for an immensely important cause. At the end of the day, we as a racer get to have a wonderful 3 day experience all in the name of raising money for a great charity. I have never felt better about myself for having had so much fun!

Our amazing food co-ordinator for SOAR has a great recipe from past SOAR adventures to try, her Southwest Quinoa!

– 2 cups cooked quinoa
– 1 cup frozen corn
– 1 cup black beans, canned and drained
– 1 orange pepper chopped
– 1 cup grape tomatoes
– 2 green onions, chopped
– 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
– 1/3 cup EVOO
– 1 tbsp taco seasoning

Combine all ingredients and toss until well mixed. Serve on its own or with pork, chicken, or as a wrap with pulled pork, cheese and sour cream.

Food fact: Quinoa is an excellent gluten free vegetarian option that is actually a complete protein, meaning it meets all the necessary requirements to satisfy the protein requirements of a meal. It’s easy to make (cook the same as rice), and is very versatile. White quinoa gas the highest protein content, while black quinoa contains the most iron. Quinoa is traditionally a grain grown in South America but it is now being grown in Western Canada too!