(Above) Chicago fire fighters and police officers compete to see who can eat the most Buffalo wings in a race last night at Dick’s Last Resort at Marina City. CFD personnel won the event, which raised money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois. (Click on image to view larger version.)

April 8, 2010 – It was a battle between first responders last night at Marina City, Chicago Police Department versus Chicago Fire Department. The fire fighters won both events – who could eat the most Buffalo wings (John Fabianski of Engine 56) and who could eat the hottest (Hector Lujano of Engine 98).

In a “no holds barred, last man standing competition,” the event at Dick’s Last Resort raised money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois. The organization grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

“Our goal was to be able to grant two wishes and each wish costs approximately $5,000,” says Linda Shafran, who helped organize the event. “We more than met our goal!”

Shafran estimates more than 300 people attended the event, emceed by radio personality Erich “Mancow” Muller and Dr. Ian Smith of VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club. Helping to judge the wing-eating contests were Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, 14th Ward Alderman Edward Burke, and Todd Schultz, a stage manager for The Jerry Springer Show who is often seen on camera.

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