By Joel Howard

“Family fun day” is how veterans of Norfolk’s Annual Amazing Race describe the event. Known as AARK, the first race was held in 2007 and has since grown to a size that involves many volunteers and concentrated planning.  This year’s race is scheduled for Saturday, July 14, and will benefit the Norfolk Curling Club.

First conceived as a fun game for a small group of friends, AARK is an acronym derived from its original founding families last names  – Alexson, Arquet, Reeve, and Kasacek. Two of those organizers, sisters Mary Reeve and Margaret Alexson, have since taken the event to newer and bigger horizons. Along the way, their decision to have the event raise money for various charitable groups was an easy one to make, as their family has strong ties to the community.

This year’s beneficiary is poignant for more than just the Curling Club’s loss to arson.

“Our grandfather was a founding member,” said Reeve. “And our mother curled while she was pregnant with us, so it seemed appropriate.”

The event is not unlike the television show “The Amazing Race”, where teams are pitted against one another to win prizes and cross the finish line first. While the local version may not have as much glitz and glamor, it is not short on fun. The stagers of this year’s event promise wacky ideas that lead to unusual antics.

The race itself is developed via four or five meetings throughout the year. Participant feedback plays a key role in fine-tuning the race, and dry runs leading to the actual event help work out any kinks.  Volunteers are vital to the success of the event, and several come back every year.

“We’ve got such wonderful volunteers,” enthused Reeve. “It wouldn’t happen without them. And it sure wouldn’t be near the fun, either.”

This year, as a way to help raise funds for an ill co-worker of Reeve’s, there will be a lemonade stand along the race route. Proceeds will be used for a stem cell transplant in the fall.

Alexson and Reeve come up with the race route themselves and the riddles used to direct players to the various “stops”, where the team is charged with finding a clue to lead them on to their next “stop”. There are also “road blocks”, where tasks are required of a team before they can advance further.

The festivities don’t stop at the finish line. In some regards, this is where the family atmosphere of the event shines. A party including food, beverages and a bar awaits everyone. This, along with some snacks and drinks provided along the race route, are all donated by race volunteers.

New this year is a raffle, with underwriting of the prizes and also some “road block” expenses being donated by National Iron Bank, Vintech Management Services LLC, Nature’s Own, A. B. Bazzano Fuels Inc., Kingsland Company, Premier Glass, and Infinity Music Hall.

One caveat for contestants is one well worth heeding. As the event’s invitation states, “you may get wet or maybe even dirty.” Organizers suggest contestants bring along a change of clothes for the finish-line party.

More information can is available from Mary Reeve at 860-480-8137.