You can make the chilli as hot as you want — because Kyle Allesia and Mike Deane have plenty of water to extinguish the flames.
For almost four months, Allesia, of Richmond, and Deane, of Surrey, have restricted their liquid intake to simple H2O in a bid to raise $50,000 for charity Water Aid Canada.
So, far, with 265 days still to go of their “404waternotfound” challenge, a series of small fundraising events has pulled in $2,200.
This Saturday, the pair’s next effort involves a local chilli cook-off at the Cambie Community Hall, with some tasty prizes for those hoping to wow the members of the public who’ll be judging what’s bubbling inside each crock-pot entry.
“We have a few entries already, but we’d love to see a few more,” said Allesia, who said he’s lost at least 12 pounds since limiting himself to drinking only water since last fall.
“We have some pretty nice prizes for the winners. There’s a Whitecaps prize pack for first place, which includes match tickets, hats, t-shirts, then there’s a grocery basket for second and Tim Horton’s cards after that.”
Allesia said they’ll be raising money through a $5 donation for tasting and testing the chillis, followed by your vote, and there will also be any opportunity for contestants to “buy” votes of their own.
In terms of maintaining the non-water liquid ban, Allesia said it has been getting easier each week, however Christmas and New Year was a struggle.
“I have a few friends in the craft brewing business, so that stretch was tough,” he said.
The News told last November how Allesia and Deane wanted to mark their 30th birthdays in October and November 2014 respectively, by doing something everyone would remember and help a good cause in the process.
So, for 404 days and nights — the number of days between Allesia's 30th and Deane's 31st birthdays and also the error code people might recognize from computers — the pair made a pact to drink only water, with a bunch of conditions for milk in their cereal, soup and smoothies.
The chilli cook-off runs from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21.
If you’d like to enter, email Allesia at [email protected]. If you’d like to taste and donate, just turn up on the day at Cambie Community Hall or log onto 404water.org.
