Hospice fundraiser once again a success
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

L-N File Photo The People's Favorite Joe Freeman, shown in the file photo, is a member of the Laid Back Cowboys cooking team, which won the coveted "People's Choice" award at the Heating it Up for Hospice cook-off. For a complete list of winners, see the story below.

The country's slowing economy didn't stop good-hearted people from donating with gusto during the annual Heating It Up for Hospice barbecue cookoff held last weekend.

"It looks like we did as well as last year," said Claudia Raun, executive director of Hospice Support Inc. "The bills are still coming in, but we feel like what we did was about the same as last year. We probably are netting $68,000, which is great, especially considering the economy."

This was the fourth year of the Heating It Up fundraiser, which benefits the foundation Hospice Support Inc. That nonprofit organization is located here but serves people in a 50- mile radius of El Campo, including Wharton, Matagorda, Colorado, Fort Bend, Jackson, Austin and Brazoria counties.

Raun said attendance at the cook-off was excellent.

"We had very good turnout," she said. Raun was especially pleased at donations made during the cook-off to various teams. The team with the most donations wins the "People's Choice" award.

"Our People's Choice went way over what we normally do," Raun said. "The teams that received the most donations … they work at it starting about a month prior to the cookout, to get their supporters to come out. It's a real cute competition they have amongst themselves."

Muldoon's Saloon owner Tim Ryan and Don Davis dealership's Rick Davis united to host the fundraiser for Houston Hospice - El Campo.

For the first time, the cookoff was held at a closed off area adjacent to Muldoon's in the old railroad right-of-way.

"The new location worked out fine, in the enclosed area Tim and Kim fixed up for us," Raun said. "Being contained like that, it controlled the crowd."

Heating it Up for Hospice also featured live music by country singer Joe Diffie on Friday night and the " 5K Stride & Stroll" and other walking/racing events, as well as a motorcycle fun run

Houston Hospice - El Campo has been serving the community since 1988, providing special care for those with life-limiting illnesses.