When Evan McGinnis, philanthropy chair of Sigma Pi fraternity, approached his fraternity brothers about running in a 26.2-mile race for charity, he was skeptical whether many would want to get involved. But to his surprise, he received an overwhelmingly positive response.
Now, 14 Sigma Pi members are registered to run in the Los Angeles Marathon, a 26.2-mile route, this Sunday to raise money for the Rape Treatment Center at Santa Monica, a division of the UCLA Medical Center.
Though the Los Angeles Marathon itself is not a charity event, the fraternity decided to find sponsors for its runners and donate proceeds to the Rape Treatment Center.
Currently, the fraternity has raised more than $6,000, and hopes to reach $10,000, McGinnis said.
“This is a big step for the chapter. I’m doing my best to make the most of this opportunity,” he said.
McGinnis said after receiving a letter from an athletic trainer offering to prepare members of the fraternity for the marathon as part of a fundraiser, he was eager to accept the offer.
McGinnis decided to donate to the Rape Treatment Center, which provides free emergency medical care, counseling for rape survivors and their families, crisis intervention, and prevention and education programs, according to its Web site.
With the support of the other members of Sigma Pi, McGinnis worked to create a mailing program, sending out letters to alumni, friends and family to sponsor the runners.
Other members of the fraternity said they credit McGinnis for the fundraiser’s success.
“(McGinnis) did a great job setting up and planning the event. He had such a great idea and presented it so well, that I was convinced to join in and run for this amazing cause,” said Case Colaw, a fourth-year political science and history student. “At first I was skeptical, because it is such an ambitious project, but now that fuels us to keep going. It’s great to have this challenge to try to accomplish and at the same time help this cause.”
Colaw added that he believes the Rape Center is a fairly uncommon kind of cause for a fraternity to raise money for.
“I think it’s important that we are helping a cause that especially affects women. It’s an issue everyone knows happens, but doesn’t want to think about it. I’m glad we are addressing it,” he said.
The runners have been training for five months so they will be in the shape needed to complete the marathon. They run four to five times a week, increasing the distances weekly, Scott Demar, a fourth-year political science and history student, said.
“It’s been intense. I ran track in high school, but I’ve never done anything like this before. I try to have a lot of discipline. It’s nice to know other guys are just as inclined to meet the same goal,” he said.
Colaw also said knowing he is training as part of a group helps him to push himself further.
“Even when I run by myself, in the back of my mind, I know there are other guys working toward the same goal and it pushes me,” he said.
Michael Spiker, a first-year anthropology student said the training has been more difficult than he expected.
“It’s been grueling. But it is for such a good cause and a way to work together with my frat brothers that it has been worth it. I look back and can’t believe I’ve run 18 miles (at a time). Before this experience, I’ve never run even close to that,” he said.
Spiker has enjoyed the experience so much he plans to run in another marathon in San Diego, he said, adding that he hopes Sigma Pi will also continue this event.
“It’s something that once you do it, you want to do it again,” he said.
Though many brothers are not running in the marathon, Demar said they are still actively involved in fundraising. Many fraternity members are helping with mailing letters asking for donations, he said.
He added that he hopes the fundraiser expands in the future to involve other UCLA students.
“I hope we can get the whole Greek community involved in the future,” he said.
And McGinnis said he believes Sigma Pi’s participation in the marathon this year will lay the framework for future events.
“People don’t realize how much they can push themselves. We haven’t even realized how much we’ve achieved,” he said.
To make donations to Sigma Pi’s runners, visit www.omegafi.com/HZMJQX.