Methuen first responders (from left) Firefighter Anthony Coco, Sgt. John Delano, Officer Patrick Waldron and Firefighter Dave Luciano competed in a burger eating contest for charity. (Photos courtesy of Methuen Police)
Challenge accepted! Members of Methuen’s Police and Fire Departments chowed down for a good cause Tuesday, competing in a burger eating competition to benefit the Martin Richard Foundation.
Held at Fuddruckers in Methuen, the M8 Burger Challenge pit Sgt. John Delano and Officer Patrick Waldron against firefighters Anthony Coco and Dave Luciano to see which first responder could finish a three-pound burger and one pound of French fries in one hour.
As it turned out, Delano—who took top honors at a past taco eating contest—came prepared to win. The sergeant found the burger and fries no big deal, finishing his meal with time to spare. He is only the second person in two years to complete the challenge and managed to beat the previous winner by three minutes, organizers said.
Waldron took second place, followed by Coco and Luciano.
The contest helped raise funds and awareness for the Martin Richard Foundation, formed to remember the eight-year-old boy killed in 2013’s Boston Marathon bombing.