Married Couple Wins MOST Amazing Race

A new “MOST Amazing Race” championship team was crowned July 25 when married couple Leah Berard and Brad Dieringer (pictured) crossed the finish line at the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis after nearly five hours of racing around the city.

It was the fourth year of the Twin Cities Salvation Army’s MOST Amazing Race, an event similar to the popular reality TV show. Berard and Dieringer – team “Blazing Saddles” – raced against 24 other qualifying teams of two. These teams completed 10 zany challenges across Minneapolis, traveling by foot or by using Metro Transit.

The challenges included choking down slimy oysters in Uptown, blasting empty oil barrels with a fire hose at a firefighter training facility, kayaking across Lake of the Isles, ice skating with Minnesota Wild mascot Nordy and much, much more.

“We had a great time,” Dieringer said. “It was a well run event, the volunteers were great…everyone we came across was top notch.”

Dieringer and Berard received a $5,000 first place prize courtesy of Wells Fargo.

“The money was fortuitous for two reasons,” Dieringer continued. “First, we have a sick cat, and we weren’t sure how we were going to pay the medical bill. Second, I’m recently unemployed. So we were racing extra hard.”

A qualifying event was held the morning of the race at the University of Minnesota. Of the 60-plus teams that entered, 20 qualified for the main event. Another five teams qualified by being top fundraisers. The top fundraising team was Deby and Gary Mullen (“Team Mullen”), who won free airfare on Delta Airlines after raising nearly $4,000.  

The 2009 MOST Amazing Race was an official event of the Minneapolis Aquatennial. Participating teams raised nearly $36,000 for The Salvation Army's Bed and Bread Club®, which fights hunger and homelessness.

To view photos of the MOST Amazing Race, click here.