Annandale Bed Race Draws Crowds, Silverado Takes First Place

Residents, organizations and business owners filled the parking lot of Kmart in Annandale on Saturday morning for the 7th Annual Annandale Hospital Bed Race to benefit the Virginia Special Olympics.

“It’s a time of ridiculousness, silliness and warm-hearted and good-hearted fun,” said Gavin Dock, president of the Annandale Chamber of Commerce. The event is sponsored by the chamber with the Fairfax County Police Department.

People lined up on the sidewalk along John Marr Drive to watch teams race hospital beds up and down the street in eight heats. A total of 23 teams entered this year’s race according to Annandale Chamber of Commerce Vice President Carol Zach-Reuss, the most since the event started seven years ago. Two teams dropped out before the race began.

“It’s the biggest we’ve ever had,” said PFC Brendan T. Murphy, Crime Prevention Officer for the Mason District station of the Fairfax County Police Department about the race. “It’s grown immensely.”

Silverado took home the first place prize and TD Bank, which will open in Annandale next month, won Best Decorated bed. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department received an honorable mention for their bed designed to resemble a Washington Flyer shuttle vehicle and the Korean American Association of Northern Virginia won for Most Entertaining team.

Each participating teams raises money online or through company sponsorship at a minimum of $500 per team and all proceeds go to Virginia Special Olympics. Zach-Reuss said planning for the event starts in January and the beds used by the teams are donated by Inova Fairfax Hospital every year.

Various officers and board of directors from the Annandale Chamber attended the event as well as several local representatives including Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Mason District Supervisor Penelope Gross and Fairfax County Chairman Sharon Bulova, who was her team’s “patient” during their ride in the race. When the heats were finished, Hapmudo also performed a martial arts demonstration for the crowd.

“It’s just a fun thing for the community. It gets everyone involved,” said Amy Starr, who owns Annandale’s popular coffeehouse with her husband David.

Participating teams in this year’s race included:

• American Legion Post 1976
• TD Bank
• The Korean American Association of Northern Virginia, sponsored by Amerikor Investment Group
• Navy Federal Credit Union
• The
• Fairfax County Chairman Sharon Bulova, sponsored by First Command
• Congressman Gerry Connolly, sponsored by
• Braddock District Supervisor John Cook, sponsored by Burger King
• Mason District Supervisor Penelope Gross, sponsored by the Korean American Association of Northern Virginia
• Giant
• The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department
• Martial Arts
• Reithoffer Shows #1 and #2
• Fairfax County Police Department
• Fairfax County Fire and Rescue
• The Arlington Sheriff's Office
• Ft. Belvoir Military Police, sponsored by Frank Cresswell
• Annandale Patch
• Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy.

All competitors received plaques for their participation.

View an from the bed race here and .