This afternoon, members of Sigma Phi Epsilon, 237 Langdon Street, will set off on a approximately 350-mile-bike trek to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, to deliver the game ball for Saturday's UW-Madison football game as part of their ninth annual Tour de Touchdown philanthropy event.
Eight fraternity members will begin the journey today, with one biking and the others in a van. The group will bear anticipated chilly November weather on back roads to Minnesota, switching riders along the way, according to Rob Wilson, co-chair of TDT and UW-Madison senior.
More fraternity members will catch up with the group each day until the fraternity reaches University of Minnesota late Friday afternoon. In all, approximately 60 fraternity members will bike, sleeping in motels along nearby expressways when it gets dark.
\[We] basically just cram into a room and start out ... pretty early in the morning,"" Wilson said.
According to Wilson, notoriety for the event and donations for the UW Children's Hospital have mounted over the last few years. Sigma Phi Epsilon hopes to raise between $7,000 and $8,500 this year and has received approximately $4,500 of their goal thus far.
All donations help improve the environment for children in the hospital. Typically, half of the patients stays in the hospital are relatively long term and the children often become restless of hospital routines a few months into their stay, according to Mary Kaminski, child life services manager for the UW Children's Hospital.
""We actually have a wish list and our items are anything from laptop computers to DVD players for the patient rooms,"" Kaminski said. ""We prioritize based on what [patients] want.""
From 1 to 4 p.m. this afternoon, Sigma Phi Epsilon will host a raffle and party in honor of the event. Bucky Badger and children from the hospital are expected to attend. The party, held at the fraternity house, will lead up to the bike ride send off.
Hogag said he thinks the cause helps the bikers bear the cold, snow and rain.
""As soon as you see the face of the kids, you're like 'that's why we're doing this stuff.'"" Hogag said. ""That's what makes it all really cool.""
Those interested in donating to the fundraiser can send checks made out to the UW Children's Hospital to Sigma Phi Epsilon care of Tour de Touchdown.
