LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Thirteen teams of bed racers spent Saturday morning racing their homemade beds around the Lawrenceville courthouse square.
The teams participated in the 2011 Bed Race. The event was a fundraiser for Family Promise of Gwinnett County. This was the second annual event and included a parade of beds, too.
Channel 2 Action News meteorologist David Chandley served as the grand marshal of the parade then hosted the bed races.
Teams consisted of four bed-pushers along with one person who was on the bed during the race. Participants included church groups, local businesses and groups of friends. Teams paid an entry fee and also gathered sponsorships for their beds. Organizers expected to raise nearly $10,000 total, including $7,000 from the 13 participating teams.
"The money is important to keep any organization open, but the larger focus is on the fun and awareness of the homeless crisis, not only in Gwinnett, but in the entire United States," said Tom Cioffi from Family Promise.
Here is some video of the teams racing around the square.
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The teams included, "Bed of Moses," "Noah's Ark," "Baby's Bedtime," "Grateful Bed" and several others.
"Baby's Bedtime" captured the Funniest Bed award. "Grateful Bed" took home the people's choice award and the championship title. "Grateful Bed" knocked off "The Bat Mobile" in the final race. "Grateful Bed" took home the title in the inaugural bed race in 2010, too.
Family Promise of Gwinnett County is a nonprofit organization that helps homeless children and their families in Gwinnett County find affordable housing and employment. Family Promise provides the families with a place to stay, food, and fellowship using the faith community of Gwinnett County.
Steve Weimar of the "Pirates of the Galilean" bed team shot this video while participating in one of the races.
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WSBTV
