ESCANABA — Instead of holding its Amazing Race for Child Advocacy this summer like it has in the past, the Delta Regional Child Advocacy Center plans to hold a week-long virtual event in August.

In the past two years, more than 300 participants, 86 volunteers and 72 businesses in the Upper Peninsula were involved with the Amazing Race for Child Advocacy. The event is meant to raise operational and programming costs for the Delta Regional Child Advocacy Center while creating community awareness of the prevalence and prevention of child sexual assault and physical abuse.

This year’s Amazing Race was scheduled for July 18. However, the center opted not to go forward with the event in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We decided to cancel the in-person race, and we did that to be socially responsible, data-driven (and) community-oriented,” Program Coordinator Kelly Chandler said.

Several other fundraising events and opportunities for the child advocacy center have been canceled as a result of the pandemic, as well.

Instead of attending the Amazing Race in person, people in the area have been invited to participate in the “Virtual Amazing Race for Child Advocacy.” The new event was announced earlier this month.

According to Chandler, initial public reactions to the Virtual Amazing Race have been positive.

“There was a lot of excitement,” she said.

The Virtual Amazing Race will start on Aug. 8 and end on Aug. 16. Registration will begin July 1.

“It’ll be open to anybody who would like to participate,” Chandler said.

There will be a cost for registration, and individuals and teams will be able to take part in the event.

During the week of the Virtual Amazing Race, at least three challenges per day will be released across a variety of platforms. Participants will respond to these challenges by uploading photos, videos and more.

Along with the daily challenges, racers will have chances to win prizes, earn bonus points and raise funds for the child advocacy center through peer-to-peer fundraising. Categorical prizes will be awarded, as well.

Participants will be encouraged to follow social distancing guidelines as they complete challenges.

“We can do it safely,” Chandler said of the event.

Despite the change of plans, Chandler said she has high hopes for the Virtual Amazing Race.

“We’ll have more challenges, we will have more participants and more businesses to highlight to create more awareness of our agency and what we do,” she said.

People interested in participating in the Virtual Amazing Race are encouraged to follow the Delta Regional Child Advocacy Center on Facebook for details. Businesses and community members in the U.P. that would like to be involved with a challenge or would like to donate prizes or funds can reach Chandler at 906-789-5186 or kchandler@deltaregionalcac.org.