Pelham, AL (WIAT-TV) --Usually customers at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Pelham aren't force to eat outside.  But Thursday was a special occasion.  As part of the Rib Fest promotion, the restaurant held a rib eating contest for charity.

Proceeds from the 8 minute gastronomic olympics are going to the Ronald McDonald house.

Not everyone was here to win though.  Arne Leiter's family stayed at a Ronald McDonald house in Florida after his grandson was born.  "Wonderful facility, wonderful people.  And we thought what a nice way to support them," he says.

But it wasn't just the guys chowing down for charity.  One little girl held her own.  12 year old Sara Barry celebrated her birthday Texas style.  "I love ribs.  They're my favorite food," Sara says.

The winner was Dale Boone, a competitive eater from Atlanta.  He put away 43 ribs in the 8 minute time frame.