Ultimate Firefighters Challenge Friday in Finch Fieldhouse

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Can you take the heat?

The Ultimate Firefighters Challenge, run by five event management students starts at 1 p.m. Friday at Finch Fieldhouse.

As a major requirement for Tim Otteman’s RPL 430: Planning Recreation Programs and Events class, students are in charge of creating, organizing and executing an event.

Saginaw junior Kristi McInerney said the students filled out questionnaires, and then were paired with four other people unlike themselves. She and her four other group members decided to host the Ultimate Firefighters Challenge.

The challenge was created to mimic the final test that firefighters must complete to graduate from Firefighter’s Academy.

When brainstorming ideas for their event, the students came up with a bake-off, an eating contest, a 5K run and a slam poetry event. They finally came to agreement when one of them mentioned an event to benefit firefighters.

“Personally, I have a lot of firefighters in my family,” McInerney said.

She said her father and brother both working as firefighters, and the event is really important to her.

The proceeds from the event will go to the Fallen Firefighters Fund, a non-profit organization designed to remember the fallen and to aid their families.

“I’m excited for when we give the check away to the firefighters because they do so much for us,” said Clarkston junior Samantha Alty. “I think it’s good to give back.”

A hose carry, body drag and tire run are all part of the challenge, but that is just the beginning of the activities.

“There is a lot of other stuff going on besides just the challenge,” said Mount Pleasant junior Elizabeth Hillmann.

There will be free food from O’Kelly’s, music from 91.5 CFX and a Red Wings ticket raffle. Other sponsors for the event include Total-Lee Sports, Heritage Tattoo, the CMU Bookstore, Celebration Cinemas and Fazoli’s.

“I think we’re all looking forward to seeing the times that the teams get,” McInerney said.

For more information on the Ultimate Firefighters Challenge, e-mail canyoutaketheheat@gmail.com.