4th Annual Lee County Chili Challenge Jan. 28
The Floridant/10217948

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Floridant -- The 4^th Annual Lee County Chili Challenge, presented by Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz and Stu's Motorcycles, will tickle the tastebuds on Jan. 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Stu's Motorcycles, 14607 Ben C. Pratt/Six Mile Cypress Parkway in Fort Myers.

The Lee County Chili Challenge brings together fire, EMS, police and military chili cookers to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Injured Warriors Fund of Florida and Collier-Lee Honor Flight.

"While the Chili Challenge event is fun, it's all about awareness of these organizations," said founder Jason Dysarczyk.

For a $10 donation, visitors get a chili testing kit to sample various chilis. Tickets for over $7,000 in prize drawings, beverages, and food are all available for a donation.

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Dysarczyk is a Battalion Chief with the South Trail Fire & Rescue District and served as a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Several years ago, he thought that Stu's Motorcycles, which is in the jurisdiction of the department, would be a great place to have a chili competition to benefit organizations that help first responders and veterans.

Beneficiaries of the event are:

• Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which honors the sacrifice of firefighter Stephen Sillier, who died on Sept. 11, by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building custom smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. (t2t.org/)
• The Injured Warriors Fund, which was created by the Marine Corps League Dept. of Florida to help warriors injured in combat in Iraq, Afghanistan and areas of terrorism. (mcldof.org/injured-warriors-fund-of-florida (https://www.mcldof.org/injured-warriors-fund-of-florida))
• Collier-Lee Honor Flight transports veterans free of charge to Washington, D.C. to visit memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices.

Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz returns for a second year as a presenting sponsor.

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"Our firm regularly supports veterans' organizations," said Christopher J. Smith, managing partner of the firm. "We participate in bike nights and promote motorcycle safety, so it's a privilege to be able to help this event grow at Stu's Motorcycles."

At last year's event, $10,653 was raised for the organizations. Fort Myers Fire Department won first place and the People's Choice trophy.