Last March, some of the regular campers at Jam at the Ridge Campground in Le Roy started talking about BBQ and smoking meat and thought they should have a friendly competition.

So they did.

And they turned it into a fundraiser for Golisano Children's Hospital.

It turns out that all of the cooks participating had children or grandchildren who had been treated at the pediatric hospital in Rochester.

They raised $750.

The cooks and campers brought their best recipes for brisket, pork, turkey, and chicken.

"And everybody came in for a fellowship," said Tim Hogle, one of the organizers.

The only prize was bragging rights and those went to Doug McDaniel (first), Tim McManus (second), and "Will the Barbequer" (third).

Photo: Shelia Kingston presents a mock check to Betsy Findlay, a senior director at Golisano.  Tim McManus holds a poster of the children and grandchild of the cooks who were treated at Golisano. Photo by Howard Owens.

Press release:

The Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation donated its first installment of $10,000 to the new Golisano Children's Hospital which is currently under construction in Rochester, NY, with opening date slotted for 2015.

This is the first installment as the foundation has pledged a total of $50,000 to the project. The monies will be earmarked for the Child Life Office in the new facility. Child Life provides the hospitalized children with therapeutic programs, play and other activities to help children and families cope with the challenges of illness or hospitalization.

This is another way the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation continues to fulfill its mission and Lend a Hand for Hope. For more information on fundraising events, or to see how you can help, go to www.michaelshope.org.