A West Roxbury Family's Amazing Race

The non-profit organization SMILE Mass is running its own version of the Amazing Race on September 29. But the proceeds of this version of the Amazing Race is going to the purchase and donating of 100 beach wheelchairs to public beaches on Cape Cod.

That is very important to West Roxbury's Barry Wiener, who is participating in the Amazing Race. A single dad of three, spoke about the race.

"My team 'The Longshots' are participating in the Amazing Race.... My twin boys Dan and Andrew are both handicapped. Andrew is in a wheelchair with cerebral palsy, is blind, (has) seizures and a severe brain injury. Dan has the same injury, just not as severe. He is legally blind, and (has) seizures," wrote Wiener via email to Patch.

"This will be my second year doing the Amazing Race. I'm doing the race because it's very difficult to try and go to a beach especially with a wheelchair-bound child. So for me, specifically, this would help myself, and my family with an opportunity to enjoy the beach," said Wiener.

The SMILE Mass Amazing Race is on Sat., Sept. 29 starting at 4 p.m. Its Third Annual Amazing Race, this year’s race will be held in Boston’s North End and Faneuil Hall areas. 

Teams are composed of two to eight members (with a max of 200 participants), and they are given a creative list of activities to perform as they visit popular destinations in the North End/Faneuil Hall area. The race includes solving clues, performing funny tasks - but most of all bringing awareness to a very worthy cause.

The mission of SMILE Mass is to "give disabled children and their families’ wonderful life experiences and memories by creating fully accessible vacation rentals throughout the United States." The first property renovation is taking place on Cape Cod, which includes purchasing and donating 100 beach wheelchairs to public beaches on the Cape. This will allow disabled children the opportunity to not only access the beach, but to have a family beach day.

To date the first 20 chairs have already been delivered so race
proceeds will be directed toward this project. SMILE Mass is a 501c3 so all donations are fully tax deductible as allowed by law.

To donate to the Wieners' team - The Longshots - click on the link.

To know more about SMILE Mass, its Amazing Race, how to donate, and more - check out this .