By Josh Gill
Reporter
Students will have the opportunity to light up the night with glow sticks, neon shirts and black lights in the new spring charity event Ready, Set, Glow!
The Theta chapter of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority is partnering with the Theta Delta chapter of Delta Tau Delta to bring the 5k charity glow run to campus.
The event will take place Thursday. It is open to all Baylor students and the funds from race entry fees and sales of T-shirts and race packages will go toward the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Zeta Foundation Benefiting Breast Cancer Education and Awareness.
Students can sign up for the race online by going to the Facebook page for the event and clicking on the link for signups in the page’s info section.
Online signups will be open through Thursday. Participants may also register for the event in person before the race at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. The race will begin at 8:00 p.m.
“Basically we have a philanthropy event once a semester and we make it open either for students to come and watch the event or for them to participate,” said Youngstown, Ohio, junior Sarah Carson, member of Zeta Tau Alpha. “In the spring in the past we had a golf tournament but this year we were trying to think of something that would appeal to a wider audience. It’s fun that it’s a glow run because not only are we partnering with a fraternity, but it’s something that a lot more people are interested in.”
San Antonio junior Kelsey Mann, director of philanthropy for Zeta Tau Alpha, said this year’s spring charity event is different from those of past semesters.
“There will be a ton of glow sticks, and glow chalk, there’s going to be a ton of white, glow, and neon throughout the entire 5k. It is the first time in at least 17 years that we’ve brought our spring fundraiser to campus and it’s the first time that we’ve paired up with Delt.”
Richardson junior Austin Duval, service and philanthropy chair for Delta Tau Delta, said there are even more aspects of this run’s glow than the glow sticks and chalk.
“We bought 450 feet of glow wire for this event,” Duval said. “We do encourage people to bring their own glow things. Just make it awesome.”
Duval said there will also be a fog machine.
San Antonio junior and first vice president of Zeta Tau Alpha, Kelsey Vaughn, said running is not the only way that students can support this charity event.
“The entry fee to run is $15 and it includes a T-shirt, some glow sticks as well, your race bib, and some fun coupons to put in the race bag,” Vaughn said. “If you don’t feel like running you can support us by buying a T-shirt and coming and cheering on your friends.”
Duval said the entry fee, though small, can make a difference for the better.
“It’s not even that much, but where that $15 can go is very impactful,” Duval said.
For those who cannot make it to the race and who perhaps do not wish to buy a T-shirt, Duval said there is another way to support Zeta Tau Alpha and Delta Tau Delta’s philanthropies.
“We’re doing a profit share with Olive Branch on Monday the 31st,” Duval said. “If you can’t come out and run this is a great way to support the causes. All you have to do is tell them that this is for the Delt or Zeta glow run and they’ll take it from there.”
The participating Olive Branch restaurant location is at 215 S. 2nd St. below Spice Village and will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday.
Other than supporting charity, Duval said there is another incentive for both individuals and Greek Life organizations to participate in Ready Set Glow!
“There are two categories for prizes – one for organizations and one for individuals,” Duval said. “For the individual prize, Princeton Review will be giving a half scholarship to the male and female first-place winners. For the organizations, 10 percent of the profit will go to the philanthropy of the sorority and the fraternity with the most participants. In the future we’d like this to include other organizations but right now it’s primarily designed for Greek Life organizations.”
Duval said Delta Tau Delta also wishes to continue this event in the years to come.
“This is the inaugural year of it,” Duval said. “It is something that we wish to continue, going forward, in order to benefit our two philanthropies.”
