Athlone ‘hot wing’ challenge supports Autism charity

By David Flynn

Former Athlone Garda Garreth O’Sullivan recently came up with an unusual fundraising idea, a 10-minute chicken-wing eating challenge, which attracted more than 150 people to the Coosan Tavern and helped to raise money for autism charity AsIAm.

The event was organised by Garreth, who runs the power bank rental company DockHive, and his friend Simon Healion, of Simon’s Street Kitchen. It combined a night of entertainment, a raffle, and some seriously hot chicken wings in support of a good cause.

The event is thought to have raised between €1,500 and €2,000, though at the time of writing the final figure had not yet been determined.

The highlight of the evening was a challenge in which participants chose to eat chicken wings coated in an intensely hot sauce made with California Reaper and other chilli and ghost peppers. When they finished eating the wings, competitors then had to wait for three minutes without drinking water or any other beverage!

Mikey Griffin emerged as the champion, completing the challenge in one minute and five seconds before enduring the required waiting period of no fluids for three minutes.

“We came up with this idea of how can we allow people to have a night out for themselves and also feel like they could make a difference for others,” Woodville, Athlone native, Garreth told the Westmeath Independent.

Garreth approached Simon to help organise the event, and said several businesses in the area subsequently contributed prizes and other support.

Fourteen people took part in the hot-wing challenge, paying €20 each, with the entry fees contributing an initial €280 to the fundraising effort. Raffle tickets were also sold, and spot prizes encouraged members of the audience to get involved in the evening.

The raffle offered a range of prizes supplied by local businesses. The event also featured Simon’s Street Kitchen food truck allowing people to purchase burgers, while music and entertainment helped create a lively atmosphere.

Garreth paid tribute to those who gave their time, money and services to make the fundraiser possible. He also thanked the Coosan Tavern for hosting the event.

“Simon was brilliant on the night and he contributed towards the ingredients and preparations for the challenge, while other supporters provided equipment and entertainment,” said the former Garda.

People wishing to contribute can find details through Garreth O’Sullivan’s dockhive.ie Instagram page.