SANDUSKY, Ohio, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the record-setting Magnum XL-200 roller coaster, the Firelands Chapter of the American Red Cross is teaming up with Cedar Point amusement park/resort to hold an auction for thrill-seekers who want to be among the first riders of Magnum's historic 2009 season. The Red Cross is auctioning seats on Magnum to the 36 highest bidders, with bids starting at $75. All riders must be 48 inches or taller to participate. A winning bid will include a complimentary catered lunch, commemorative medallion and T-shirt, group photo, two consecutive first rides of the season on Magnum and complimentary admission to Cedar Point on Opening Day, Saturday, May 16. (Successful bidders will select seats, with the highest bidders choosing first.) Proceeds from the auction will go to fund a variety of Red Cross programs. Magnum is a traditional "out and back" coaster that features 5,106 feet of track that winds its way over Soak City and along the Lake Erie shoreline, giving riders an unparalleled view of the lake and the Cedar Point skyline. Opened in May 1989, Magnum was the world's first 20-story-tall coaster and with speeds reaching 72 mph, it was the tallest and fastest roller coaster on Earth. Twenty years later, Magnum is still considered to be one of the best coasters ever built. It has been rated a Top 10 Steel Coaster in the Golden Ticket Awards presented by Amusement Today, an international publication serving the amusement and waterpark industries, each of the 11 years the poll has been conducted. One of the park's most popular roller coasters, Magnum has given nearly 40 million rides. In 2008 alone, more than 1.7 million guests rode Magnum, the most rides given by any coaster in the park last summer. The Firelands Chapter of the American Red Cross is accepting Magnum 20th Anniversary VIP Ride bids now through 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13. For more information on how to place a bid, please log on to the Red Cross Web site at http://www.firelandsredcross.org/ or call 419.626.1641 or 800.589.2286 (toll-free in Ohio). DATASOURCE: Cedar Point CONTACT: Ron Rude, Firelands Chapter of the American Red Cross, +1-419-626-1641, Web Site: http://www.cedarpoint.com/

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