Iron Bridge Gives Up Their Shirts After Losing Bet to AIDA

Staff at the Iron Bridge Wine Company will literally be giving up the shirts on their back this week to raise money for breast cancer awareness... and because they lost a bet to AIDA Bistro & Wine Bar.

Iron Bridge's owner Steve Wecker challenged Joe and Mary Barbera, the owners of AIDA, to a bet back in April. The deal was the restaurant that raised less money for Blossoms of Hope's "Pink Plate Specials" fundraiser in April would have their staff wear pink t-shirts with a special message on the back for a week.

That message, currently on the shirts of staff at Iron Bridge, reads, "I'd rather be at AIDA Bistro & Wine Bar."

"We didn't lose, cancer lost," said Wecker about the bet. 

AIDA ended up raising close to $6,000 more than the Iron Bridge during the April fundraiser, according to Blossoms of Hope. The Pink Plates fundraiser ended up netting more than $14,000 to support the Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center at Howard County General Hospital.

"This was the largest amount we ever raised [during Pink Plates]," said Victoria Goodman, executive director of Blossoms of Hope.

Staff at Iron Bridge have been encouraged to attempt to sell their "I'd rather be at AIDA" shirts to patrons to raise additional funds for charity.

Wecker said he has already sold three of the shirts off his back so far, netting $155 in the process. In addition, staff is accepting donations from people, even if they don't want the shirt, said Wecker.

On Thursday evening, Wecker and the Iron Bridge staff will host the Barbera's for a dinner "to bask in the glow of their victory" at 7 p.m. at Iron Bridge Wine Co. on Route 108 in Columbia.

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