12-hour cardio-thon to raise money for Lance Armstrong Foundation
The organization hopes to raise at least $5,000 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Published Feb. 1, 2005
Omicron Delta Kappa, a leadership honor society, will sponsor Givestrong-a-thon, a fund-raiser for the Lance Armstrong Foundation on Friday. The event will be a 12-hour cardio-thon held at the MU Student Recreation Complex from 8 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday.
ODK President Andy Fluhart said he came up with the idea for the fund-raiser this past fall. He said he was interested in raising money for the foundation and wanted ODK to sponsor a service event.
Fluhart, who was a finalist for the foundation's Junior Spirit of Survivorship Award, was diagnosed in October with a relapse of Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare cancer.
"He's served as such an inspirational force behind this event," organizer Cliff Judy said. "He has been someone who has really motivated us. A lot of us feel like we are doing this for him."
Although official registration closed last Friday, groups who still want to participate are welcome to register. Forms can be picked up and returned to the ODK mailbox in A022 Brady Commons. Many groups have registered for the event so far, including fraternities, sororities and residence halls, as well as two groups associated with the MU Alumni Association, Judy said.
The main goal of the event is to raise money, but the guidelines encourage at least one member of each group to be on a piece of equipment at all times. Since the event is a charity fund-raiser, however, Judy said the rules would not be strictly enforced.
"It's not so much a competition," he said. "It's not structured like that."
He said the goal of the event is to get people to donate money.
Judy said he has been in close contact with the foundation concerning the fund-raiser.
"Our goal is to be the largest and most generous fund-raiser for LAF held on a college campus," Judy said. "We are almost halfway there with entry fees."
Judy said ODK has collected $2,300 in entry fees so far.
Dan Shipp, associate director of recreation services and facilities, credited ODK students for doing most of the work organizing the event.
"We have served as a vehicle for ODK to actually develop and implement their ideas," he said. "We really try to work with all student philanthropies to help them in the planning stages of their events."
Shipp said all facility rental charges have been voided and many Team Mizzou employees have volunteered to help.
Several events and activities are planned throughout the night to keep people entertained. A live band will play, and the Comedy Wars improvisational troupe will perform. Other activities planned include cardio salsa, movies, food, basketball, dodge ball and strength and fitness tests.