Cue Bob Costas VO.

Our story begins in a modest Midwestern city, where the only defense against the cold, harsh winter is the warm glow of a dream. A burning desire to compete.

But for people like these (cue montage of ordinary folk) — tech geeks, advertising execs, lawyers, teachers, moms and dads — finding a stage on which to compete is not easy.

Overcoming many a personal struggle, they created their own race, The Chiditarod. Yes, it’s like the Iditarod. But instead of dogs, it involves people. And instead of sleds, grocery carts.

And this competition will help others by requiring every shopping cart/team to collect at least two pounds of food along the route. Food that, at the finish line, will be donated to those in need.

So this Saturday, five-person teams will gather at the Pontiac Cafe with tricked-out buggies and harness systems, ready to race through the fair and windy city. Guided only by the most basic of rules (the cart must have rubber caster wheels and cannot be motorized, and competitors must have fun), a dream will be realized.

Other than two mandatory checkpoints (think: local watering holes), the path they choose is up to them.

Their journey, their own.

For registration and information, go to chiditarod.org.