Slider-eating contest benefits Valley charity

PHOENIX - A handful of Valley men are likely sipping on Pepto Bismol Sunday night after taking part in the 3rd annual Slider-Eating Contest at Chicago Hamburger Company near 38th Street and Indian School Road in Phoenix.

“People have been asking me for years to do a slider-eating contest. So when the block party was created, I thought it would be a great time to debut it,” owner of Chicago Hamburger Company, Bob Pappanduros said.

As the contestants mentally prepared for the contest, Pappanduros brought out bags filled with his famous sliders and lined them up one by one. As the crowd cheered, the contestants devoured the sliders, sipping water in between.

Just five minutes in, Olof Torne, Jr. threw his hands up in the air and declared victory. He said this was his first eating contest.

“I was looking to have something for lunch and somebody said ‘Why don't you enter the contest?’ I was minding my own business and something great happened, for charity, the citizens are out here enjoying the block party and it can't be better,” Torne Jr. said.

The Indian School Corridor Partners in Prosperity block party’s goal is to promote the businesses on Indian School Road, as well as raise awareness on all repeat crimes in the Indian School Corridor. Half of the events proceeds will go to charity.

“I wanted to benefit a local charity and really make a difference,” Pappanduros, who chose to donate to the 100 Club of Arizona , said. “These fellow men and women risk their lives for us and here’s an organization that tries to give back. Many local police patronize Chicago Hamburger Company and the 100 Club seemed like a perfect match for us.”