Do you like fast coaster rides at your favorite Theme Park? Do you like to help a good cause? What if I told you that you could do both and have fun doing it for One day for FREE. Macaroni Kid Gurnee-Vernon Hills is participating in the 2021 Coaster Challenge and supporting the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois. Our team name is the "Mackid Gurnee Run for Fun ".
Come out and take the challenge. Are you brave enough?
The Special Olympics of Illinois announced that it will be joining Six Flags Great America on Saturday, September 18, 2021 to take part in this year's Coaster Challenge.
My name is Lapretta Jackson, I am the team Captain for "Mackid Gurnee Run for Fun" for the Six Flags and Special Olympics Coaster Challenge and I am also the Publisher for Macaroni Kid Gurnee-Vernon Hills. The Special Olympics are the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 4.4 million athletes in 170 countries. They are a global nonprofit organization serving the nearly 200 million people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics competitions are held every day, all around the world including local, national and regional competitions. They conducts the Special Olympics World Games every two years, alternating between Summer and Winter Games. It was founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968 and more than 2.5 million athletes of all ages are involved in Special Olympics sports training and competition in more than 180 countries. I first started being a volunteer for the Special Olympics over 20 years ago when my niece who is now 36 years old, whom has Cerebral Palsy years ago started going with her middle school class on different field trips and she was also playing on different team sports with the Special Olympics of Illinois in the Chicago area and I volunteered to chaperone. I started volunteering for the Special Olympics of Illinois in Gurnee five years ago and I never been so proud of all the kids and adults that play on teams or are volunteers.
I am happy that the Pandemic is almost over and people are able to go out and do fun things again. In the past few years my family and I has been lucky to have been either a volunteer or a participant in The Six Flags Coaster Challenge. I am so thrilled that they are back and doing it again this year. I enjoy going to Six Flags a lot with my kids and grandkids. We go to the kiddie Cartoon play area whenever I have the little ones. We play the games and even go swimming in Hurricane Harbor. So when the Coaster Challenge was announced we practically jumped at the chance to be a participant.
This year my daughter and I are both participating and joining the fun. We have had so much fun in the past. You will not only help by being a volunteer or donating for a good cause, but by being a participant you also get to go on your favorite rides with a flash pass for a few hours. You will also get free admission to Six Flags Great America Theme Park in Gurnee, IL , free parking, free t-shirt, free breakfast and free lunch. How Fantastic is that? Just for one day you can make a difference. You can learn more at https://www.sixflags.com/greatamerica/events/coaster-challenge and also at https://soill.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=878.
Participants complete registration for $25 at https://bit.ly/coasterchallenge2021,When signing up be sure to select "Team Mackid Gurnee Run for Fun" and then choose the distance you want to travel on Six Flags Great America's world-class roller coasters. Options include the equivalent of a 5K, 10K, half marathon, or marathon.
- Ride the distance of a 5K = $150 fundraising minimum or $100 for current Season Pass holders
- Ride the distance of a 10K = $300 fundraising minimum
- Ride the distance of a Half Marathon = $500 fundraising minimum
- Ride the distance of a Marathon = $1,000 fundraising minimum The Coaster Challenge tasked participants with riding 4 different coasters — reaching heights of 233 feet, drops of 215 feet and speeds of 80 miles per hour. The Six Flags Coaster Challenge is part of the Special Olympic's annual seasonal celebration and is only for one day
Six Flags Coasters Challenge with the Special Olympics Volunteers
Me (last one on the the right), my daughter Vanessa (sixth from the left), her boyfriend Anton, and others are volunteers for the Special Olympics of Illinois in 2018
What's cooler than being cool? Having a Fast Pass and early access to the Raging Bull, Maxx Force, Viper and Whizzer at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, IL for a few hours or even the entire day.
See just how Jesse Kirsch from NBC News and the kids from the Special Olympics of Illinois take on the Maxx Force. A little sneak peek of the action.
It cost $25 to register to participate and join my team Mackid Gurnee Run for Fun Team. Ride the distance of a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon or Marathon on Six Flags Great America’s world-class roller coasters. The earlier you register, the more time to work on fundraising. All fundraising must be completed by the event date.
All Coaster Challenge participants will receive early entry to the park to kick-start their day. Challengers will get VIP access to ride Maxx Force, Raging Bull, Viper and Whizzer from 9:00-11:00am. VIP early entry allows participants to get extra laps in before the park opens. All participants will receive a THE FLASH Pass to all roller coasters until 1:00pm and later depending on the fundraising level you choose.
The $25 is payable to the Special Olympics and it helps them with keeping this challenge going. Please read the rules, benefits, and Incentives below.-
My daughter on her way to get on some rides
Mackid Gurnee Run for Fun team also have a Facebook group that will give you tips. Click here to join Facebook group
Six Flags Great America ADA Safety and Accessibility Guide Click here
Click here for all the rides in the park.
Team name is: Mackid Gurnee Run for Fun
Ready to take the challenge. So what are you waiting for?
Click the green button to register and to join our team. We would love to have you on our team.
After the challenge you will be able to go on other rides located throughout the park. Now if you are like me and like all the thrills and chills. I know you'll have a blast riding any of the coasters. While you are still there don't forget to check out some of these other awesome rides.
Coasters and The boat rides
There will be Covid-19 Protocols in place. Also, when you’re in the theme park, you are required to wear a mask at all times, unless you’re eating or drinking. (That means get ready to scream into your mask while on Batman: The Ride.)
Here are the rules:
Six Flag Great America and Special Olympics Illinois have teamed up for the Coaster Challenge on Saturday, September 18. Take the run out of racing & ride your way to the finish line to support the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois.
Simply register for $25, fundraise and ride the distance of a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon or Marathon on Six Flags Great America’s world-class roller coasters. The earlier you register, the more time to work on fundraising. All fundraising must be completed by the event date of September 18, 2021. All Coaster Challenge participants will receive early entry to the park to kick-start their day. Challengers will get VIP access to ride Maxx Force, Raging Bull, Viper and Whizzer from 9:00-11:00am. VIP early entry allows participants to get extra laps in before the park opens. All participants will receive a THE FLASH Pass to all roller coasters until 1:00pm.Coaster Challenge participants can choose from four different fundraising levels.
Each level corresponds to a required fundraising minimum per participant. -Fundraising Levels
- Ride the distance of a 5K = $150 fundraising minimum or $100 for current Season Pass holders
- Ride the distance of a 10K = $300 fundraising minimum
- Ride the distance of a Half Marathon = $500 fundraising minimum
- Ride the distance of a Marathon = $1,000 fundraising minimum Coaster Challenge participants will have their scorecard stamped as they exit each ride, and the total distance will be tallied when they check in at the scoring table upon completion. All Coaster Challenge participants must adhere to all Six Flags Great America park and guest safety policies and procedures. Click HERE for Six Flags 2021 Health & Safety Protocols and Six Flags Great America Park Policies. Please contact Jennifer Kelso at jkelso@soill.org with any questions about the fundraising and the Six Flags Coaster Challange.
Please contact Lapretta Jackson at laprettaj@macaronikid.com with questions about joining our team. Benefits & Incentives
5K Rider ($150 fundraising minimum or $100 for current Season Pass holders)
Free entrance into Six Flags Great America Parking Pass (value: $25) Free continental breakfast Official Coaster Challenge athletic shirt Tracking pass Medal upon completion
- All of the above prizes
- Official Coaster Challenge
- 10K incentive: TBD
- All of the above prizes
- Official Coaster Challenge Half-Marathon item: TBD
- Entrance via THE FLASH Pass until 5:00pm
- 2021 return ticket to Six Flags Great America
- All of the above prizes
- Official Coaster Challenge Marathon item: TBD
- Upgrade your 2021 return ticket to a 2021 Six Flags Great America Season Pass
- Entrance via THE FLASH Pass for the entire day
Registration is NOW OPEN to join Team Mackid Gurnee Run for Fun to take on the Coaster Challenge! Click the join button.
If you would like to help me reach my fundraising goal, please visit my page at https://soill.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantID=71669 to make a donation. Thank you so much for your donation.
Mackid Gurnee Run for Fun team also have a Facebook group that will give you tips. Click here to join Facebook group
