COEUR d'ALENE - Chili lovers of all ages braved fierce winds and cold rain at the 14th annual Coeur d'Alene Honda Chili Cookoff on Sunday.

With a low price of $5 per cup for all you could eat, the event brought in quite a crowd, despite the inclement weather. Per tradition, all proceeds from the event were donated to The Children's Village, a nonprofit based in Coeur d'Alene that provides a safe haven for abused or neglected youngsters.

"Children's Village does such a phenomenal job in the community, and not many people know about them," said Rita Sims-Snyder, co-owner of Coeur d'Alene Honda. "We donate everything.

Every dollar we collect goes to Children's Village."

Eighteen teams vied for the $850 purse, coming from as far afield as Sagle and Rathdrum. When the votes were tallied, Stacey and John Vahey of Backyard Chili won first place and a prize of $350. Big Dog Chili won the People's Choice award, as voted on by the public.

"This year we had eight teams that had never cooked with us before, so that was pretty cool," Sims-Snyder said. "We have everything from home cooks to pro chili cooks."

While the competition was fierce, charity was the main focus of Sunday's event - to date, the cookoff has raised over $25,000 since the event became a fundraiser in 2005.

"(The funds) go directly to the care of the children," said Children's Village Development Director Tinka Schaffer. "It's been wonderful to have (Coeur d'Alene Honda's) support, because we're one of the few places that takes children that doesn't have funding. I think that North Idahoans are (great) supporters of children, because regardless of the weather, we're pioneers and they all turn out."

Mary and Rocky Banks of Post Falls were doling out fresh Horse Thief Chili during Sunday's downpour. Their spirits weren't dampened.

"We are having a blast," Mary said. "This is our first year, and my husband wanted to make his chili. It's been a lot of fun, good turnout. We wanted to do it for the kids."

Cactus chili in tow, Cathy Wyer drove from Sagle to participate in the cookoff. 2010 marks her fourth year of competition, and her tasty concoction - Cathy's Cactus Chili, it was called - was the only green chili at the event.

"I do it just because it's fun... it's a great cause and it's fun," Wyer said.

The cookoff is usually overrun with hungry motorcyclists, but the rain kept the bikers at home this year, Sims-Snyder said. Plenty of folks still showed up, though, sampling a taste of spicy chili and buttered cornbread, raising money for the children of Coeur d'Alene.

"It's chili-eating weather, so it's been OK," Sims-Snyder said with a laugh.