That time when Paris represented CANADA in Bed Racing!

On the 28th of February 1985 The Paris bed race team left for Hawaii to compete in the annual Carole Kai Bed Race on March 9. At least 91 teams from around the world will participate. The Paris entry was the only one from Canada. During the week prior to the race, Paris team members spent a good part of each day practicing They also attended social events and met their opposition. They expected to be matched with a team from Japan in the first race. After that it is a matter of elimination. At least two members of the Paris team also took part in another race, the Great Aloha run on March 3, which was expected to draw about 15,000 runners. Thirty-one people, including 16 adults and the 15-member team, are going to Hawaii

Most of the $14,100 raised to finance the trip came from 80 to 100 private donations. The team also raised money at toll booths set up at entrances to Paris on Dec. 22, at a bake sale and a car wash. Team members and parents also contributed. "Everything required for the bed was contributed, together with uniforms for the team," said team captain Darren Jack. American Airlines provided two free tickets and agreed to ship the bed free of charge. Prior to the race, the team participated in a decorative bed contest and a parade along Kalakaua Avenue to Kapiolani Park, where the quartermile race was to take place The travellers returned home March 11.

During this time back in 1985 Darren Jack sent reports to the local newspaper detailing the team's activities in Hawaii. The Paris Independent has recently obtained copies of these reports and I will spend the next several issues reporting on the Paris Bed Race Team’s progress just as the newspaper did back in 1985. If you want to find out how the team did in Hawaii, you will need to keep reading each week’s column! Continued on page