More than 800 people crowded the roadway during Woody’s “Save Second Base”
breast cancer fundraiser,
Cruz Bay was full of chicken wings and BBQ sauce last weekend.
Woody’s Seafood Saloon hosted a major block party, dubbed “Save Second Base,” and raked in over $23,000 to fund the fight against breast cancer.
With Centerline Road blocked off from the corner near FirstBank to below the Julius E. Sprauve School, an estimated 800 people packed the street to hear live music, enjoy cold drinks and angle to get a view of the wing eating contest.
Woody’s block parties used to be hotly anticipated anniversary celebrations, but this year owners of the popular Cruz Bay bar and restaurant decided to make the event a fundraiser.
“After 14 years of having an all-female staff, this was our way to give back,” said Todd Beaty, who owns Woody’s Seafood Saloon with twin brother Chad.
Wing eating contestants chow down.
The event netted a total of $23,811, half of which was donated to the American Cancer Society’s first ever St. John Relay for Life. The other half was donated to the non-profit Living Beyond Breast Cancer, which is dedicated to assisting breast cancer patients through diagnosis, treatment and beyond.
The highlight of the party, which was hosted by Woody’s, Bellows International and 104.3 the Buzz, was the wing eating contest. The event drew 40 hungry contestants who each had to scoff down as many wings as possible in 143 seconds.
Contestants ranged from the truly dedicated — one wing eater shaved and dyed his hair into a pink mohawk — to the truly bizarre — one contestant must have thought that red Speedo had some special powers.
Contestants went all out for the chicken wing eating contest by dyeing their hair, above, and donning unusual outfits, below.
After four heated rounds and one final round, Mark Blackburn was crowned Woody’s wing eating champ. Blackburn somehow managed to down 21 wings to get him into the final round, when he tossed back another 20.
For all that work, Blackburn won a day cruise on Woody’s new charter boat Wet Woody’s, a 36-foot Intrepid with twin 350’s.
Governor John deJongh, while unable to attend the party due to the DIAGEO opening on St. Croix, graciously allowed the Woody’s crew the use of his headquarters for the wing eating contest, explained Beaty.
“We have to love the ‘gov’ and give him mad props for letting us use his space,” Beaty said.
Live music was provided by Kenny Floyd and the Web from 104.3 the Buzz and many volunteers pitched in to make the event such a success.
The Woody’s crew.
