Alpha Tau Omega and Place 2BU Host First Bed Races

October 6, 2005

by Allison Deily

Alpha Tau Omega and Place 2BU are teaming up to host the first-ever bed races at Baylor University from 4 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 8. The races will take place on campus on the 5 St. stretch from Morrison Hall to Fountain Mall. There are "bed races" throughout the country at other schools, but this is Baylor's first time to host such an event.
The event includes free food and Dr Pepper, music provided by a DJ and a concert by Christian rapper Lecrae after the races. Each winning team (one male and one female) will receive $250 per team.
The bed races involve 32 non-co-ed teams of five racing hospital beds with new wheels attached down 5 St. Four team members push the bed, wearing knee and elbow pads, while one team member, wearing a helmet, rides in the bed itself. Beds and protective gear are provided. At the end of the race, the person sitting on the bed will complete a 30-foot blow-up obstacle course.
The teams will race two at a time with a single elimination rule, so that once a team loses, it is out of the tournament.
As social chair for Alpha Tau Omega, Clear Lake senior Drew Snyder has been instrumental in organizing the event.
"The idea for Bed Races was proposed to me by Amy Reeves, the assistant director for Student Activities," Snyder said, "She said she had been looking for an organization to help her promote and run the event. We said we would do it, and it blossomed from there."