The Griffon News

In memory of Lou Gehrig, a famous baseball player for the New York Yankees and a famous Phi Delt, the members of Phi Delta Theta fraternity raised money to help find a cure.

Lou Gehrig was the first baseman for the New York Yankees and was one of the most outstanding baseball players from the twentieth century. He was known as the Iron Horse and over a fifteen-year span (1925-1939) he played in 2,130 consecutive games. This ongoing streak was broken after he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS. This disease took over his life two years later.

The men of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity at Western, along with other chapters among the nation, planned an organization to raise money to find a cure for ALS.

“Lou Gehrig was a Phi Delt, so all the Phi Delts around the nation try to have one or two fundraisers a year to collect money to find a cure for ALS,” said Zach Slater, public relations chair for Phi Delta Theta. “It’s our national philanthropy. All of the money we raise will go to the ALS association.”

The Western chapter planned an ALS walk that took place at 9 a.m. on April 21. They met at 8:30 a.m. to set up tables at the beginning, halfway and end point. They started at the Ashland United Methodist Church and ended up at Central High School.

These ALS walks have been a part of the Western chapter since 2002. They try to increase the donation value each year. The last ALS walk was held in the fall of 2005 and $2,000 was raised.

“This year our goal was $1,500,” said David Wyble, Vice President of Phi Delta Theta.

However, Chris Brown, philanthropy chair, said they were $500 short at $1,000.

“I was a little surprised that more people from the city St. Joseph didn’t come out,” Brown said. A March of Dimes event was on the same day, he said, which may have been a factor.

There were about 50 people in total who walked in support of ALS. Everyone was invited to participate in the Phi Delta Theta ALS walk. Of the 50 people who showed up to walk, 25 were fraternity members and the others were parents, girlfriends and some sorority girls.

“There were several people who were out of town and not able to make it to the walk, so there is still money to be donated,” Slater said.

This fundraiser inspired people to get out there and help fight for a cure.

“I went to a leadership conference last summer, and there were two young boys probably about 10 or 11 with a mother that had ALS,” Wyble said. “They went around to different conferences talking about the best kinds of fundraisers people could put on to help those with ALS. I was very inspired by those boys. I thought if they could get out and voice their story, then I should do everything I can to help, too.”