Gridiron pie-eating contest a winner for Komen Foundation

From AAPSNews staff

Although a fall pie-eating contest between two Ann Arbor high schools ended in a virtual tie, the winner was clearly the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

The first Pioneer vs. Huron Pie Eating Contest raised $80 in one hour, which is as long as it took the two five-person teams to finish their pies, said Veronica Pasfield, marketing chairwoman for the Pioneer High School Football Boosters Club. “They were so ready to go,” she said.

Whole Foods–Cranbrook Village was the location for the Oct. 7 event between the two varsity football teams to raise money for the Komen Foundation and its 3 Day For the Cure walk and to recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The theme was carried throughout both schools during the week, with students, athletes, band members and others wearing pink T-shirts imprinted with the motto “Rivals on the field, United for a Cure,” and designed by Huron Athletic Director Dottie Davis.

A weeklong series of “pink” events for the cause, including sales of some of the shirts to the public, raised a total of $722.66, according to a recent blog post by Pioneer Athletic Trainer Anne Solari.

Solari is participating in the 60-mile 2010 Komen Breast Cancer 3 Day For the Cure walk on Aug. 13-15 and had suggested that school teams consider raising money for the cause. For the past six years, she worked on the support team for the regional fundraising event.

“This is the first year I’ve chosen to walk it,” she said. “I thought it was time.” Solari must raise at least $2,300 to participate in the event and said she wants to raise more.

Solari said the pie-eating event was the football teams’ idea and that other athletic programs are pitching in for the cause.

“We’re just trying to get the word out. I’d like to raise more awareness,” she added.

Huron’s coaching staff presented Whole Foods Marketing and Community Relations Director Susan Bellinson with one of the special pink T-shirts. Bellinson arranged space for the event and donated the pies.

The contest was part of a week of cross-town rivalry between the two schools, culminating in the annual gridiron match-up the following Friday evening. Pioneer won the game, 23-18.

For more information about Solari’s participation in the Breast Cancer 3 Day or to pledge to her cause, visit her blog.