Mustache Society changes the face of charity

More than 800 people dressed for the cold and headed out to the Battle Creek Metropolitan Area Mustache Society's (BCMAMS) third annual Festivus celebration to raise more than $2,000 for the Leila Arboretum Society. And that only begins to tell the tale of the hair growing fundraisers' event.

There were 50 sleds entered, about 40 crockpots full of chili -- one a six wild-game meat recipe, an all vegetable chili from a community garden, a few pots of vegan chili and lots with venison -- and 25 competitors in the ugly sweater contest. The ugly sweater winner was a gentleman in pink.

To ward off the chill, people ate chili in warming tents throughout the event. Meanwhile, DJ Frizzil played Jock Jams and '80s cheese.

From a broken sofa at the bottom of the sledding hill, judges handed out the Tom Selleck award for best design, the Cannonball Run award for best run, the Peach Fuzz honors for best youth sled, the Frank Costanza award for the worst run and the Festivusest for the those demonstrating the best team spirit. (In case you were wondering, Frank Costanza, George's dad on the television hit "Seinfeld", invented an alternative to Christmas known as Festivus now celebrated in Battle Creek in February.)