Saturday marked the 12th Annual Chili and Boilo Cook-off, a way for the East End Fire Company of Tamaqua to raise funds for the American Cancer Society of Northeast Pennsylvania Telethon.

And, quite possibly, the last one.

“This year, the American Hose Company decided not to go in with us, so East End is doing it alone,” explained event coordinator Art Connely.

There is a possibility that another fire company, not being named right now, might step in and help save the event.

“If they take it over, they will have my help,” Connely said.

“All the money we make goes right to the American Cancer Society,” Connely said. “It was something we need. One of the cochairman, Tom McCarroll, has cancer. My father died of cancer.”

Over the past 12 years, the cook-off has raised over $50,000 that goes toward the work of the American Cancer Society.

Asked if it felt good that the fire company has been able to help in the fight against cancer, Connely answered, “I’d like to say so. The Cancer Society provides a lot of services for people suffering from cancer.”

Each entry paid a fee to enter. This year, it was reduced to $5 to allow more people to enter. They also lowered the entry fee due to the higher cost of the ingredients.

For the competition, there are eight categories: traditional chili, nontraditional chili, traditional boilo, and nontraditional boilo. There are judges awards for each, and then the people’s choice awards for each.

Regarding the chili, there some basic ingredients.

Basic chili is beef and spices. Some people add beans, tomatoes, corn, and other ingredients. The nontraditional chili is made with other types of meat such as chicken.

Boilo is an alcoholic beverage, although not a common one outside of the coal regions in northeastern Pennsylvania. The traditional version of Boilo is alcohol and spices. Some add oranges, lemons, raisins, and herbs. The nontraditional boilo was offered in different flavors like peach pie, root beer, strawberry, and blueberry pie, just to name a few.

Mark Verbyla had a big display set up, offering 15 different varieties of boilo from traditional to various fruit flavored beverages like pomegranate, strawberry, peach, and pineapple.

“This may be the last competition,” Verbyla said. “Tom McCaroll said to ‘go big.’ ”

“I really loved that the Tamaqua Fire Department here at East End does so much for the community. I really hope the community comes out to support them.”

“Boilo is part of the coal region heritage. We really shouldn’t let it die, because once we let traditions die, where are we at? Nowhere,” Verbyla said.

The East End Fire Company will present this year’s funds to the American Cancer Society during the annual telethon broadcast April 11 and 12 at Penn’s Peak.