Page 35 - October 2015
P. 35
Rare Occasion...Well Done
Coppers best firefighters in burger bash to benefit 100 Club
n BY NICK SWEDBERG
n PHOTOS BY JAMES PINTO
Jason Brandstetter doesn’t really have a secret strategy for speed-eating a one pound hamburger.
The 18-year Chicago Police Department veteran, who said he doesn’t do any special training to prepare, was team captain and anchor for the 18th District team in the Pig Out for Charity event held on Sept. 24 at 25 Degrees on North Clark. The final eat-off came down to his team facing a group of Chicago firefighters, who led until Brandstetter stepped up and virtually inhaled the bun and burger in huge bites chased by gulps of water.
While the competition is a fun chance to bring together officers – and, for the first time in its five-year history, firefighters – it also supports 100 Club of Chicago and its noble cause to help the families of the fallen.
“Every police officer hopes they are always OK but that’s kind of fantasy land,” the 42-year-old Brandstetter said. “Unfortunately, now, it’s more and more dangerous for (first responders) and it’s nice to know that there is a foundation out there.”
For five years, he and other police officers have helped raise money at the annual contest for the 100 Club of Chicago. Events like the eating contest and memberships are what 100 Club relies on to provide financial support and scholarships to the families of fallen officers, said Joe Ahern, CEO of 100 Club of Chicago. Currently, 21 college students are on scholarships provided by the 100 Club. About
36 CHICAGO LODGE 7 n OCTOBER 2015
$3.5 million in scholarship funds are available for the sons and daughters of fallen officers.
“They’re the ones that are there when you need help the most,” Ahern said of both officers and other first responders. “When you call 9-1-1, they are the ones who are there to protect you, protect your family, protect your loved ones.”
Three teams of Chicago Police Department Officers and one composed of members of the Chicago Fire Department faced off in the contest with the simplest of rules: whichever team of four finished eating four ham- burgers the fastest won. The 18th District walked away with a trophy for the third time, but the contest and event’s main purpose is to highlight those who chose to protect innocent people.
“The sacrifices that their families make in particular, to deal with the long hours of their shifts, to deal with the potential dangers, ultimately to face the fact they could lose their loved one in the line of duty, is absolutely incredible,” said Ji Suk Yi from ABC7-Chicago’s Windy City Live, who emceed the event and provided color commentary as competitors gobbled their way through
burgers provided by 25 Degrees.
This year’s event was held in honor of Jonathan Ho, a 10-year
member from Mount Greenwood who was killed in an off-duty motorcycle crash on Aug. 25. Ho’s wife, Christine, was in attendance and noted how much the event and 100 Club of Chicagomean to her and her family.
“Our blue family is as important as our blood family,” she said.
The Eaters
19th District
Sean Hogan Philip Fox Tom Walsh Tyrone Ortegan
6th District
Paul Kane
Liz Soregaw Don Moser Steve Hotkiewicz
Firefighters
Al Cousineau, 1st District Dan Poole, 5th District Jimmy Diaz, 5th District Mari McNally, 5th District