Bed Races and Chili Cook-Off Compete to Grant Wishes

November 12, 2008

by Lillyan Baker, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
The Baylor University chapters of Alpha Tau Omega and Chi Omega are teaming up to host the annual All University Bed Races and Chili Cook-Off at 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, at Foundation Mall on the Baylor campus. The event will benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation, which helps grant wishes for children who face life-threatening medical conditions.
The event, which is open to the public, requires a $5 admission fee and includes an opportunity to taste all of chili entries, including corn bread, chips and extra pots of chili provided by the members of Chi Omega.
The evening will begin with Bed Races, where five-member teams race each other down Fountain Mall pushing one member on a hospital bed through an inflatable obstacle course. The event is a double elimination tournament, with separate brackets for men and women teams.
First place finishers will receive $250, second place wins $150 and third place will receive $100. A prize package also will be awarded to the team with the best costume.
Registration officially closed for the women's teams on Friday, Nov. 7, but registration is still open for men's teams. Since there is no entry fee for the teams to compete, Alpha Tau Omega is asking for each team member to bring five addresses to send Make-A-Wish donation request letters.
"We encourage non-competing students to sit in the bleachers and cheer on their favorite team," said Robert Kend, Alpha Tau Omega Bed Races chairman. "This year we are excited to be partnering with Chi Omega's Chili Cook-Off. After the Races and the Cook-Off, the band 'The Pictures' will be playing a concert. Hopefully all three of these events will attract lots of students, competitors and spectators alike."
As the Bed Races competition continues, Chi Omega's Chili Cook-Off will begin at 7 p.m. and will include chili tasting, all-you-can-drink Dr Pepper and live music from the Kappa Omega Tau 10th Street Band. Student organizations pay an entrance fee of $20 to submit a pot of chili in the contest. This year, 60 teams are cooking their favorite chili to impress the Baylor faculty judges.
Awards will be given to the first, second, third and spiciest chili winners at the end of the evening. The winners will receive different gift cards to local Waco restaurants.
"Chili Cook Off is truly going to be all-university event, as students all across campus are being represented in our chili competition," said Chantel Garrett, Chi Omega Chili Cook-Off chairwoman. "The 60 teams consist of sororities, fraternities, freshmen groups, multicultural organizations, campus offices and a variety of other student interest groups. We are so excited to gather our campus together in order to make children's wishes come true and bring some light into their lives."
T-shirts for both events are available in Penland, Collins and Memorial residence hall cafeterias and at the Bill Daniel Student Center during the lunch hour. Alpha Tau Omega and Chi Omega are donating all t-shirt proceeds from both events directly to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Both organizations shirts are $10 each.
"It is an organization that brings joy to these kids and their families after most of them have been through very challenging situations," said Lauren Sherman, Chi Omega service chair. "They grant wishes, including trips to Disney World and opportunities to meet celebrities, to young children all the way up to age 18."

When Chili Cook-Off ends at 9 p.m., The Pictures, a cover band from Austin that played during the 2008 Baylor Homecoming bonfire, will play a free concert at Fountain Mall.

For more information about Bed Races, please contact Kent at R_Kent@Baylor.edu. For more information about the Cook-Off, please contact Sherman at Lauren_Sherman@Baylor.edu or Garrett at Chantel_Garrett@Baylor.edu.