ypsilanti courier
newsTuesday, March 25, 2014
YPSILANTI: Strong community and stomachs showcased at the first bratwurst-eating contestBy Leslie McGraw
For Heritage Media
Twitter: @LesGo4ItHundreds of people piled in the Wurst Bar to watch 12 contestants attempt to eat a 20-foot-long bratwurst in the first Wurst Challenge, helping to raise almost $8,000 for the FLY Children's Art Center. [ Click here for photo gallery ] “I wasn’t expecting it to be so intense, so big,” FLY Board President Christine Bruxvoort said. FLY provides mobile programming at local elementary schools and community centers, as well as in its new studio in Ypsilanti. “It is a free program; we reach children that many not have resources create new, unique things every week.” Morgan Cox, who headed the organizing committee for the Challenge, said the entire event was orchestrated in less than two months. “When we started [organizing] this, our original goal was $2,500,” Cox said, “The money we raised will make a huge difference in our programs.” Donations included $6,498 raised through a temporary page on FLY’s website with a leaderboard and pictures for each contestant. The page, which stayed active for contributions throughout the weekend, showed that each of the bratwurst eaters collected between $105 and $1,346. Contestants all had a gimmick. Cre Fuller, who used the title of “Captain Pork-Link” during the challenge, came prepared in a flag-inspired outfit and helmet. “I plan to give it a valiant USA effort,” he said, boasting before the challenge. Fuller said that when Cox first approached him, he was immediately interested. “She was trying to sell me and I said all you had to do was tell me to come, eat sausage and I’m in,” Fuller said. Justin O’Neill, “The Brat Slaughterer”, came costumed as a Tyrannosaurus Rex and said he was prepared for the challenge. “I haven’t eaten since last night,“ he said. Meg Miramontes, “The Tofu Terror”, was one of the two contestants who opted for a vegetarian plate. Miramontes and “The Bottomless Pit”, Melissa Wingett, are familiar with the programs provided at FLY. “I’ve spent time at FLY, gone to weekend events. They offer options for low-income kids and have hands-on activities,” Wingett said. However, both women were also ready to be a part of this unique event. “I came to eat; I’m ready to kick some ass,” Miramontes said. After close to an hour of eating, contestants were starting to feel the sausage. “It hurts,” O’Neill said. Others, like “Terrible Terry” (Terry Londy) and “Knifebeard SausageHawk” (Jason Youngs) began to dance around to shift the growing lump of sausage in their stomach. Miramontes sought relief from her “Tofu Terror” by attempting to massage the hard lump growing at the top of her stomach down so she could continue eating. Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schreiber, who used the title “The Guy in Charge”, dressed up as a chef to participate. As the first contestant to drop out the competition, he shared his remaining bratwurst to onlookers throughout the restaurant. “Federal and state funds have dried up. We need to support organizations like FLY to take up the slack,” he said. This inaugural fundraiser, which was covered by local media, bloggers, videographers, not only brought attention to the Wurst Bar and FLY but the entire Ypsilanti community. “Arts make a stronger community; it enlightens people to the value of art,” Bruxvoort said. Leslie McGraw is a freelance multimedia journalist. Follow her on Twitter at @LesGo4It.
For Heritage Media
Twitter: @LesGo4ItHundreds of people piled in the Wurst Bar to watch 12 contestants attempt to eat a 20-foot-long bratwurst in the first Wurst Challenge, helping to raise almost $8,000 for the FLY Children's Art Center. [ Click here for photo gallery ] “I wasn’t expecting it to be so intense, so big,” FLY Board President Christine Bruxvoort said. FLY provides mobile programming at local elementary schools and community centers, as well as in its new studio in Ypsilanti. “It is a free program; we reach children that many not have resources create new, unique things every week.” Morgan Cox, who headed the organizing committee for the Challenge, said the entire event was orchestrated in less than two months. “When we started [organizing] this, our original goal was $2,500,” Cox said, “The money we raised will make a huge difference in our programs.” Donations included $6,498 raised through a temporary page on FLY’s website with a leaderboard and pictures for each contestant. The page, which stayed active for contributions throughout the weekend, showed that each of the bratwurst eaters collected between $105 and $1,346. Contestants all had a gimmick. Cre Fuller, who used the title of “Captain Pork-Link” during the challenge, came prepared in a flag-inspired outfit and helmet. “I plan to give it a valiant USA effort,” he said, boasting before the challenge. Fuller said that when Cox first approached him, he was immediately interested. “She was trying to sell me and I said all you had to do was tell me to come, eat sausage and I’m in,” Fuller said. Justin O’Neill, “The Brat Slaughterer”, came costumed as a Tyrannosaurus Rex and said he was prepared for the challenge. “I haven’t eaten since last night,“ he said. Meg Miramontes, “The Tofu Terror”, was one of the two contestants who opted for a vegetarian plate. Miramontes and “The Bottomless Pit”, Melissa Wingett, are familiar with the programs provided at FLY. “I’ve spent time at FLY, gone to weekend events. They offer options for low-income kids and have hands-on activities,” Wingett said. However, both women were also ready to be a part of this unique event. “I came to eat; I’m ready to kick some ass,” Miramontes said. After close to an hour of eating, contestants were starting to feel the sausage. “It hurts,” O’Neill said. Others, like “Terrible Terry” (Terry Londy) and “Knifebeard SausageHawk” (Jason Youngs) began to dance around to shift the growing lump of sausage in their stomach. Miramontes sought relief from her “Tofu Terror” by attempting to massage the hard lump growing at the top of her stomach down so she could continue eating. Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schreiber, who used the title “The Guy in Charge”, dressed up as a chef to participate. As the first contestant to drop out the competition, he shared his remaining bratwurst to onlookers throughout the restaurant. “Federal and state funds have dried up. We need to support organizations like FLY to take up the slack,” he said. This inaugural fundraiser, which was covered by local media, bloggers, videographers, not only brought attention to the Wurst Bar and FLY but the entire Ypsilanti community. “Arts make a stronger community; it enlightens people to the value of art,” Bruxvoort said. Leslie McGraw is a freelance multimedia journalist. Follow her on Twitter at @LesGo4It.