This week, Phi Delta Theta will raise awareness for their ALS philanthropy by organizing a weeklong event, Strikes and SteALS. Senior Molly Borter assisted the chapter in the creation of the new event.
ALS, which stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a fatal disease that affects muscle movement. No direct cause or cure has been found.
The ALS association became Phi Delt's national philanthropy when hall of fame baseball player and Phi Delt member Lou Gehrig died from the disease in 1941.
Strikes and SteALS is a baseball-themed event in honor of Gehrig. The event will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 22 with a Hot Dog Eating Contest at the Lilly Center.
Borter created Strikes and SteALS during her Winter Term internship at the ALS association in Indianapolis. She felt compelled to organize the events in order to benefit Phi Delt's chapter and because her father, who passed away from ALS in 2008, was a DePauw alumnus. Moreover, Borter wanted to raise awareness about the fatal disease that has greatly affected her family.
"It's something that I felt strongly about," Borter said. "Not a lot of people know what the disease is. Once you're diagnosed with ALS, you get 3-5 years to live. It's like a death sentence."
While Borter was working with the ALS association, the organization had already planned on organizing a college event. However, she took it upon herself to gear the events towards DePauw's Phi Delt chapter with the help of her executive director, Melissa Pershaing.
"The whole idea was part of my internship," Borter said. "I was given the task and pulled through and did it. I created all the flyers, the Facebook page and all of the rules and games for each event."
All of the money raised at the events will go to the Indiana Chapter of the ALS association. The money will be allocated to helping Indiana families afford more efficient medical equipment and assist grieving meetings and support groups to help those in mourning.
"This is the first time our chapter has done something like this on campus," said senior Rahuk Abhyankar, Phi Delt's philanthropy chair. "We really want a tradition at DePauw. We hope Strikes and SteALS can give us that, as well as promote ALS awareness."
Some DePauw students are lured by the unique and creative activities Strikes and SteALS has to offer and are looking forward to participate in the events.
"I think the events are creative because they're something new that we don't really have," freshman Madeline Wickman said. "It's a good way to promote their philanthropy."
On Wednesday, participants can partake in a Scavenger Hunt in Phi Delt. On Thursday, there will be a Frats-at-Bat Home Run Derby at Lilly and the event ends on Friday with an ALS Walk at Bowman Park. All of these activities are open to the public and begin at 4:30 p.m.