SHEPHERDSTOWN – With her granddaughter being diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, Patti Simmons decided to organize several fund raisers to help researchers find a cure, including Saturday’s 8th annual Chili Cook Off in Shepherdstown.

“All the hard work is paying off,” Simmons said. “A helpful new drug, Vertek 770, is being presented to the FDA. Sufferers are hopeful that it will be available by the fall of 2011.”

Starting at 1 p.m. at the Station at Shepherdstown, guests pay $8 at the door and get to sample all the selections of chilis – 22 different recipes have been entered this year. Guests vote for their top choice of chilis and the winner of the Cook Off is awarded a trophy, a weekend get-away to the Inner Harbor Marriott Hotel in Baltimore and “braggin’ rights.”

Second place receives the silver medal, and a gift certificate to Dutch’s Daughter restaurant in Frederick, Md..

There also are lots of beverages, such as beer, soda and water.

A children’s activity table has been added this year. Also Saturday morning, the “Remembering Michael” 5K walk/run will be held. Organized by friends and co-workers, the event is held in memory of Michael Hedricks, who died from Cystic Fibrosis.

Registration is $20 and begins at 7 a.m. at the train station. The race starts at 9 a.m. and the route will be a loop along River Road and back to the train station. Last year the Cook Off donated $7,000 to Cystic Fibrosis. For more information, contact Patti Simmons at 240-217-4178.