Bed race in Canandaigua raises tens of thousands for charity

Ready, set, go! Wait, mattresses?

For three years on the Canadaigua town pier, Family Promise of Ontario County has hosted this event . All to raise funds for the homeless… Along with celebrating their first year officially in business.

“We are an organization that is charged with having a safe place for homeless families in our community to lay their heads at night.,” says Kathleen Wagner of Family Promise. “And this is very symbolic of what we do 365 days of the year.”

Symbolism, yes. But mattress racing? Why?

“Well because it is quirky and fun!” Wagner says. “Because we want to know that we can have a lot of fun doing something and tackling something very serious.”

Though the beds are also symbolic, they are also creative. Teams made of businesses, civic organizations, or businesses, build carts with a mattress in the middle. A team pushes the cart, while someone rides in the middle. Ranging to the Presbyertian pirates, to a superhero family, to a mattress that really… Delivered.