SIU fraternity members take pies to the face, pedal for St. Jude fundraiser
Tau Kappa Epsilon hopes 12-hour cycling event becomes an annual tradition
CARBONDALE, Ill. (Heartland News) - Members of Southern Illinois University’s Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity spent Monday taking turns riding a stationary bike, getting splashed with water, taking pies to the face and even shaving their heads to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The fraternity organized a 12-hour livestream fundraiser inside one of the squash courts at SIU’s Student Recreation Center, where members rotated between riding the bike and keeping track of donations and challenges.
The idea was simple: the more people donated, the more the fraternity brothers had to endure. A $25 donation earned someone a splash of water. For $50, a fraternity member took a pie in the face. And for $500, someone could find himself getting a new haircut.
“The day goes by a lot faster with a pie to the face,” said Isaac Barth, a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon who helped coordinate publicity for the event.
The fundraising effort is part of a much larger commitment by Tau Kappa Epsilon nationally to raise $33 million for St. Jude over ten years.
The SIU chapter, which has more than 80 members, hopes to contribute about $15,000 annually toward that national goal.
Barth said this was the chapter’s first attempt at a livestream cycling fundraiser. “Our goal today is just any, any amount raised is a good goal for today,” Barth said. “It’s our first year of doing this, and we hope to establish a good tradition going forward with it.”
Barth was among those planning to lose his hair before the event ended, with a donation already secured for his haircut.
The event also gave the fraternity an opportunity to bring its members together in support of a cause that has long been associated with Tau Kappa Epsilon.
Barth thanked SIU’s Student Recreation Center for providing space for the fundraiser and said the chapter was proud to hold the event on campus.
The fraternity hopes Monday’s event will be the first of many opportunities to turn a little indignity into support for the children and families served by St. Jude.
To donate to the event, scan the QR code on the TKE Beta-Chi YouTube channel.
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