Are You Brave Enough to #EatTheBean?

We love hearing about the unique ideas people come up with to support The Skin Cancer Foundation, but we never expected to hear that people would be willing to eat something that tastes like dirty socks to help fund our work. That’s just what the Colorado State Patrol has inspired others to do with their #EatTheBean Challenge. A social media campaign designed to raise money to support The Skin Cancer Foundation, the challenge centers on eating some yummy jelly beans — and some not-so-yummy ones.

#EatTheBean is the brainchild of Trooper Josh Lewis, who, as a public information officer, manages the patrol’s social media accounts. Lewis wanted to tap their online audience to help fundraise for a worthy cause. In early August, Lewis approached Chief Matt Packard with the idea of raising money for skin cancer awareness and education. The cause is personal to him — his wife and mother had both been diagnosed with skin cancer, as had several colleagues. He decided on The Skin Cancer Foundation as the best organization to support, citing how donations directly fund our educational initiatives and research grants program. Chief Packard approved, and even joined Lewis for the organization’s first #EatTheBean video.

In the video, posted to the Colorado State Patrol Facebook page, Lewis explains that challenge participants have two options: the first is to forgo eating any jelly beans and donate $25 to The Skin Cancer Foundation. The second option is to donate $10 to the Foundation and eat three jelly beans on camera. No matter which option you choose, you also get to challenge someone else. Here’s the catch: You have to take the challenge with Jelly Belly’s BeanBoozled beans, which include gag-inducing flavors like Spoiled Milk, Rotten Egg and Moldy Cheese. It’s a gamble as to whether you’ll have the misfortune of eating one of these beans instead of a classic flavor like Tutti-frutti, Coconut or Buttered Popcorn.

The first video was shared hundreds of times, and many people have responded by filming their own attempts to #EatTheBean. Several notable people have participated already, including CBS Denver reporter Makenzie O’Keefe and Stan Hilkey, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety. Lewis encourages people to take initiative even if they haven’t been challenged by someone else, so the campaign can grow as much as possible.

Here’s how to join the fun:

1. Order a pack of BeanBoozled jelly beans.
2. Select three jelly beans (different colors) from the box. If you’re playing with a friend, select two of each color (six beans in total). Some may be tasty, others not so much.
3. Get your camera rolling.
4. Tell us how you’ve been affected by skin cancer.
5. Eat the beans.
6. Challenge a person (or two) to join in the fun.
7. Upload your video to your social channels and use #EatTheBean.
8. Make your donation to The Skin Cancer Foundation in support of our lifesaving education programs.

The alternative:

If you prefer, you can skip the challenge (who really wants to eat a jelly bean that tastes like a rotten egg?) and donate $25 to the SCF.