Relay for Life ‘Cooking for a Cure’

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March 7, 2009

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By Janet Jacobs

A barbecue cook-off to benefit Navarro County Relay for Life will take place March 27-28, and afterwards, the public will be invited to eat the winning (and losing) entries at a dinner.

Relay for Life raises money for cancer research, prevention and support for cancer patients and survivors. This is the local group’s first barbecue cook-off, said Jamie Kitchens, co-chairman of Relay for Life.

“We were just looking for something kind of different for a fund-raiser for Relay,” Kitchens explained. “We were doing the same things for several years and we wanted to branch out.”

The cook-off will be sanctioned and judged by the Lone Star BBQ Society, which awards points to the top winners. Cook-off teams don’t have to be in the society to join the competition. The three meat categories are half a chicken, pork spare ribs, and brisket, although there will be a separate pinto bean contest, as well. The entry fee is $50 for one or all the meats, along with a donation of one or more cooked brisket for the dinner afterwards. The entry fee for the “Jackpot Pinto Bean” competition is $10.

All the entry fee money will go back to the teams in the form of prizes. It’s the donated briskets that will help raise money for the fight against cancer.

“Each team donates a brisket and we sell that, and that’s how we make our money,” Kitchens explained.

The cook-off will begin with registration March 27 at the American RV Park on Texas State Highway 31, just past Wal-Mart. Teams must check-in by 5 p.m. Judging will begin with the beans at 11 a.m. March 28 and continue every hour until the big brisket judging at 2 p.m.

The benefit dinner, starring the donated briskets, will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. at Star Hall, which is next to the RV Park. Plates will cost $8 for adults; and $6 for diners 10 and younger, and 70 and older. All the sides and dessert are also being donated by local businesses.

“Our goal is to have 100 percent of the proceeds go to the Relay,” Kitchens said.

Entertainment, including horseshoe and shuffleboard tournaments, and music will begin at 3 p.m. with “Texas Smoke,” a group of musicians from the Guardian Relay group. Stan Lawhon and Friends will perform during the dinner, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Star Hall.

“(Lawhon) volunteered to do this entertainment, so we took him up on it,” Kitchens said.

Local artists and craftsmen with tickets to the dinner are invited to set up booths at the RV park, and Carter Bloodcare will conduct a blood drive that afternoon, as well. “Cookin’ for a Cure” T-shirts will be available for purchase.

“We’d like to invite the public to come in and set up a craft booth,” Kitchens said. “We’re just looking for anything to draw people. All we ask is that they buy tickets for the barbecue dinner and have dinner with us.”

Tickets for the barbecue may be purchased from any Relay team, or at the YMCA, or from Jamie Kitchens. The American RV Park is donating the use of Star Hall, and has set aside a number of spaces with full hook-ups for the competitors. Reservations may be made by calling Kitchens by calling (903) 875-9729, or the RV Park at (903) 872-0233.

Plans are also underway for the American Cancer Society board to host a breakfast starting at 6 a.m. March 28 at Star Hall, Kitchens said. Proceeds from that meal will also go into the Relay for Life fund-raiser.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Kitchens added. “We’ve got a lot of cooks coming. We’re real excited about it.”

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