Organisers reveal inspiration behind rice cake event seen on stickers around Sheffield

A number of mysterious stickers advertising a rice cake eating event have appeared on lamp posts and crossings around Sheffield city centre over the last week.

The notes – which have appeared in locations such as West Street and Barker’s Pool – invite people to attend Weston Park bandstand on one afternoon next month to “see two people attempt to eat a whole packet of dry/salted rice cakes each in under 30 minutes”.

Behind the event are Sheffield brothers Isaac Walker and Billy Jones.

Speaking to The Sheffield Tab, Isaac, 28, a trainer for healthcare professionals, said: “I’ve always loved doing daft stuff and I think the world can be far too doom and gloom at times.

“I think we all just need to come together for a bit of mutual nonsense as some comic relief to the world’s problems.”

Having also took place last year at the same time, date, and place to an audience of around 10 people, the pair had been inspired by YouTuber Anthony Poe (also known as “Cheeseball Man”) who went viral for attempting to eat a whole tub of cheeseballs in New York City’s Union Square last spring.

Isaac and Billy, however, wanted to give it “a bit of a twist”.

An example of one of the stickers seen around the city

Isaac continued: “We’d been wanting to do something daft for a while and thought what better way than to attempt to eat a whole 130g pack of dry/salted rice cakes.

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“Why rice cakes you ask? They’re bloody awful things at the best of times but throw a lack of anything moist into the mix and it’s something I wouldn’t wish on anyone! They absorb all your saliva so after the third one in, your mouth is as dry as the Sahara Desert.”

The rice caking eating duo missed out on “achieving rice cake glory” last year with around three each remaining after the 30 minute time. The one key rule is that they are not allowed any water in the time.

Billy, 14, said: “I hope we will achieve it this year – no water is a big killer though. We will be preparing!”

He also hopes for others to get involved on the day: “We will look forward to seeing everyone and handing out as many packets of rice cakes as possible so people can join in.”

Whilst the event was not initially intended to be a fundraiser, Isaac said people had asked if it was for a charity.

If people did wish to donate, he suggested Sheffield Children’s Hospital or Weston Park Cancer Charity: “Both these charities do amazing work and are located near to where we’ll be doing it.”

Featured image by Brejeq via Canva