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Not just a pierogie-eating contest, but the National Pierogie Eating Contest will be held Saturday at Bethel Park High School.

Organized by Clara's Pittsburgh Pierogies and the Association of Independent Competitive Eaters (a wing of All Pro Eating Promotions), the event will give some of the money it raises to the American Cancer Society, which is holding its overnight Relay for Life that day.

The restaurant's Jacki Drevitch says this is Clara's third pierogie-eating contest.

It was New York-based AICE's idea to bill this one "national" and "I said, 'It works for me.' "

Amateur entrants pay $25 to compete, and there's a pro portion, too, featuring at least a half dozen experienced "gut gladiators," including:

Pete "Broken Wing" Maurizio (McKeesport man who won the 2005 Pittsburgh Wing Championship Series)

Mark "The Human Vacuum" Lyle (Gahanna, Ohio bruiser who in 2006 alone won the National County Fair Foods Eating Championship, American Meatball Eating Championship and the World Rib Eating Championship)

David "Coondog" O'Karma (Akron man said to hold world records for eating doughnuts as well as corn-on-the-cob)

Ian "The Invader" Hickman (Sterling, Va., champ whom AICE describes as the "National Spoon Bread, World Fried Zucchini, National Potato Latke and World Elvis Sandwich Eating Champion").

Also expected is two-time Cleveland pierogie powerhouse Tiny Tim RauschederCarey "Powerhouse" Poehlmann. and the recent winner of the Nanticoke (N.C.) Music Festival pierogie eating contest,

As AICE chairman Arnie "Chowhound" Chapman puts it, "There's going to be some heavy, heavy hitters there."

At this event, competitors will have five minutes to eat as many pierogies as they can.

According to AICE, the record is 29, set at Clara's second annual contest in January by Bob "Killer" Kuhns of Freeport, who'll be there to comp-eat this time, too.

There's also a Ms. Pierogie Talent Contest, in which "women of all shapes, sizes and ages" will be judged on their attire, pierogie talents and their answers to two of several possible pierogie prompts, including, "Connect world peace and pierogies."

For more info, call Clara's at 412-884-6226.

For rules and to register online, visit www.competitiveeaters.com.

The group plays by "picnic style rules," which it says "do not allow for the mutilation, desecration, improper destruction of a food item."