‘Face Your Fear’ event had students eating for a cause Friday night

Contestants react to eating a pigs foot during the “Face Your Fear” contest Friday evening in Finch Fieldhouse. The event was held to raise money for the Isabella county soup kitchen. (Andrew Kuhn/Staff Photographer)

Trevor Dicicco thought the food on the plate in front of him wouldn’t be that bad to eat.

Until he took that first bite.

“This is the most disgusting thing I’ve ever tasted,” the Sterling Heights senior said, having just dined on pigs feet and buttermilk.

This wasn’t a typical Friday night for Dicicco. He consumed this as part of the “Breakfast for Dinner” challenge in the “Face Your Fear at CMU” event hosted by students in an RPL 430: Planning Recreation Programs and Events at Finch Fieldhouse.

“It didn’t even taste like food,” he said. “I would’ve thrown up if I had taken another sip of the buttermilk.”

The event raised $32 and had 75 cans of food donated, which will go to the Isabella Community Soup Kitchen, 621 S. Adams St.

Sixteen contestants competed in a variety of challenges including transporting multi-liquid concoction from cup to cup and having to feel what was inside a box while blindfolded.

Ludington freshman Megan Franklin was eliminated from the competition during the “Fill Er Up” portion of the competition, where contestants had to transport a concoction of ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, orange juice and more from one cup to the other.

“It was horrible,” Franklin said. “I tried not to swallow it.”

Clarkston sophomore Aaron Wright attended the event to cheer on his brother in the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, who was a participant in the contest.

He said he was glad to help give back to the community through a monetary donation.

“The best way to find yourself is to give selflessly to others,” Wright said.

He said the food and money raised at the event, no matter the amount, helps the community.

“Hopefully it feeds people,” he said. “If you hold a philanthropy event and you get $200, you’re helping someone.”

Midland senior Shannon Grant was the winner of the event and a $50 cash prize.

Grant had the fastest time drinking a mix including ketchup, salad dressing and soy sauce.

She said the first round and fourth round were the easiest.

“The rest of the rounds were awful,” Grant said.

She said the money and food was going toward a good cause.

“I was glad they were putting it toward a charity rather than themselves,” she said.

One of the event organizers, Max Lagko, said the event went smoothly and said they did their best to raise food and money for the soup kitchen.

“We did what we could,” the Traverse City senior said. “We got enough to do a good job and for a good cause.”