Amazing Race for Charity 2022

Published on March 03, 2022

Each April since 2014 the City of Eustis has been overrun with hundreds of people wearing brightly-colored race shirts and unusual costumes while completing a series of twenty or more wacky activities along a 5-mile course across the quiet Central Florida town, all in an effort to raise money for local charities. The Amazing Race for Charity presented by Florida Cancer Specialists, was the brainchild of local entrepreneur Timothy Totten, who has created the eighth edition with his group of dedicated volunteers to take place this year on Saturday, April 2nd. 

“We're so glad to bring back an event that's raised more than $200,000 for local charities,” says Totten, who works with local sponsors and charities to devise the event. “It's also so much fun for racers to complete all the wacky challenges we create.” Totten, who serves as race director and course designer, worked with the other board members (Jill Baker, Tammie Vinson, B.E. Thompson, Sandi Moore, Robin Richter, and Paula Jordan) to create an event that is both exciting for the participants, but also respectful of appropriate health and safety guidelines while honoring the charity atmosphere of the race.

“We’re taking important steps to ensure that everyone involved is safe and has a great time,” says Vinson, who manages the 200+ volunteers who will make the race happen on April 2nd.  “Our race is really about having fun while giving back to charity, so we are very focused on making sure we take all necessary precautions.”

Each year the race features twenty or more unique race challenges that are seldom repeated in future races.  Past challenges include racing lawn mowers through an obstacle course, defrosting a frozen t-shirt, navigating the world’s longest Twister board, getting washed off like a dog at the groomer, and many others. In the end, all of the proceeds from the all-volunteer event are given to local charities doing work in Lake County.  

In 2022, race organizers expect their total charitable donations over seven races to cross the $225,000 mark.

This year’s selected charities are:

Alee Academy Charter School

Companions for Courage

Early Learning Coalition of Lake Co

Educational Foundation of Lake Co / Take Stock in Children 

Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation 

Hand in Hand of Lake Co / Ruth House program 

Lake Cares Food Pantry

LifeStream Foundation / The Open Door 

Strut Your Mutt / Humane Society of Lake County

Trout Lake Nature Center

The race attracts serious competitors, marathoners, triathletes, adventure racers, and amateurs alike - from all over Lake County, and the country. Eight states and more than 40 Florida cities will be represented at this year’s Amazing Race for Charity. As much cooperation as competition, the course is designed to bring racers and supporters together. At its core, the Amazing Race for Charity presented by Florida Cancer Specialists is about celebrating community and, more importantly, everyone wins! 

For more information, contact Tim Totten, Race Director at 352-242-8111 or AmazingRaceCharity@gmail.com, www.amazingraceforcharity.com