Jingle all the way
Campus fraternity run to benefit YouthAIDS
December 4, 2010 - By MICHAEL RUKAVINA, OBSERVER Staff Writer
Sigma Phi Epsilon Fredonia Chapter in Lafayette Square in Buffalo at the end of last year’s Christmas Tree Run.
Today the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fredonia Chapter will hold its annual Christmas Tree Run to benefit YouthAIDS, a non profit organization that helps raise awareness of aids and HIV among youths.
"We run a Christmas tree from the Williams Center on campus all the way to Buffalo, and we do that to help raise money for YouthAIDS," noted senior Allan Halas.
The annual event, now in its eighth year has helped raise thousands of dollars, last year generating $2,000 through individual donations. And boy, do they earn every penny.
Runners will start around 5 a.m. and head toward One Stop across from School 7 in Dunkirk. From there, they will run on Route 5 until they reach the Reservation. At that point they will have to get into the vehicle and drive through the Reservation. After they're out they will get back out and run the rest of the way along Route 5 all the way to Lafayette Square in Buffalo.
"This year there's about 25 people running and we'll have cars behind the runners with flashers and hazard lights on to make sure no one gets injured," Halas said.
Poles are placed on the tree so the four runners can carry the tree easier.
"We'll run about a mile and a half and then we'll switch it up and keep that rotation," Halas said of the process. "It's brutal, but it is fun and it's for a good cause."
The run will take place despite any inclement weather, according to Halas. Up until Thursday the SUNY Fredonia fraternity had already raised around $1,500 and donations were continuing up until the day of the run. If you would like to donate to the event to benefit YouthAIDS, checks can be made out to YouthAIDS and sent to the Campus Life, G113 Williams Center, SUNY Fredonia, Fredonia, NY 14063.
According to its website, YouthAIDS is an HIV/AIDS fundraising and awareness campaign of PSI targeting young people ages 15-24. The campaign began in 2001 with a small group of partners that were willing to take a chance and make a difference. Their commitment gave YouthAIDS the platform to save lives by helping to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
