Delta Chi to benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research
Fraternity members are spending 108 hours camping to raise awareness.
Published April 27, 2010
On Sunday, the Delta Chi fraternity began 108 straight hours of camping on Lowry Mall for the V Foundation for Cancer Research.
According to a news release, "Campout for the Cure" runs from April 25 to April 29.
"We've pledged $1,000," said Tyler Hansen, Delta Chi Jimmy V co-coordinator. "Our goal is to raise as much money as we can."
Internationally, Delta Chi aims to raise $130,000 for the V Foundation for Cancer Research.
"Our KU chapter actually pledged to raise $10,000," Hansen said. "We're trying to get as much money as possible to win this border war."
Hansen said chapters across the world raise money for the V Foundation all year long. Different chapters are holding their own events.
"The V Foundation for Cancer Research was established by Jim Valvano, who was a college basketball coach," Hansen said.
Hansen said Delta Chi is covering every expense of the campout.
"One hundred percent of our donations go to the V foundation," Hansen said. "So if you give us a dollar, 100 pennies will go to cancer research."
Hansen said Delta Chi is out on Lowry Mall to help raise awareness of the V Foundation.
"We thought it would be a good way to physically show (people) you can get out there and do something for anything, the V Foundation or whatever your cause is," Hansen said. "We decided as an organization we can't do everything, but we can all do something."
Preparations for the campout began months ago, when participants started contacting doctors, community members and local businesses, such as Gumby's, for sponsorship. Last week members began working on signs and posters.
"Probably a total of 108 other hours have gone into this," Hansen said. "It's a lot of work."
Hansen said many hours of labor have also gone into Monday's inaugural event.
"It's been a lot of work, but it's not as bad as losing 8 million a year to cancer." Hansen said.
Delta Chi Recruitment Chairman Tyler Filmore said he was at Lowry Mall for six hours Sunday and showed up at 8 a.m. Monday.
"There's at least two people here for each time slot," Filmore said.