CAUGHT ON CAMERA
Firefighter Dan Goeke celebrates his win after eating eight hot dogs at the first Firemen vs. Police Hot Dog Eating Contest to support the The 100 Club at Hub Hyundai West of Katy.
Police and firefighters answered the call of duty June 27, fired up by a hot dog-eating competition to benefit the families of fallen first-responders.
Donations and proceeds from the accompanying T-shirt sales, raffle tickets and a silent auction went to the 100 Club, a nonprofit organization that got its start in 1953 and comes to the rescue of families of firefighters and law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. The Club has paid funeral costs and covered children’s educational expenses.
“I know that if something ever happens to me in the line of duty, I have an organization behind me,” said Jonathan Cortez, a second-generation law enforcement officer. “They’ll be there to pay for the funeral and help my family.”
“We wanted to raise money for the fallen and wounded,” said Adam Buksh, general sales manager of Hub Hyundai West of Katy. “People don’t think about the sacrifice these folks make every minute they have a uniform on. We need to put ourselves in their shoes and realize what they have to deal with day in and day out. It’s the highest calling. Our firefighters and police deserve recognition.”
At the end of the 10-minute chow-down, the West I-10 firefighter team, which included five-foot-tall Adriana Moreno, emerged the champions: 31½ dogs versus 22 for the police officers. Eight was enough for firefighter Dan Goeke to capture the “Top Dog” prize.
Buksh couldn’t heap enough praise on how enthusiastically the community showed support as news about Hub’s effort spread via word-of-mouth. “It was great to see the diversity of businesses that wanted to get involved.”
Just a few of the many sponsors that provided goods and services: Katy Mills outlet mall, Chloe’s Fruit Co., Katy Magazine, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, KBB.com, Autotrader, Katy Area Chamber of Commerce, Tony’s Mexican Restaurant and Sports News Grill.
Buksh said the pre-July Fourth hot-dog showdown at the Hyundai and Mitsubishi businesses, 17007 Katy Freeway, was just the beginning. “We sell a ton of cars to police officers and firefighters. We can do good things for them. I want to triple this in size.”
Buksh said the firsttime event raised $10,310 for the 100 Club.
Visit https://www.the100club.org/ for more information about the 100 Club.