We Do It For Lou

Surprise, surprise, I am back at this Iron Phi thing again!

Serving another year as Team Captain, I’m pushing the chapter for a three-peat: three years in a row as an Iron Phi Chapter!

Currently we sit as the only chapter to achieve this title in back to back years, but we are facing intense competition throughout the rest of the international organization looking to meet our challenge. For almost a year now we’ve been sitting at the number two spot for overall funds raised. We’re looking to maintain that position, and here is how we plan to do it:

The Spartan Race - 5Km Obstacle Race

I fell in love with the Spartan series of obstacle races last year and will be running it again! Last year fellow Iron Phi, Chapter brother, and pledge brother, Daniel Alleyne ran at my side, along with my close friend, coworker, and chapter pledge Mitchell Coupland, in the Halifax 5k. The three of ran times of 1:17, 1:21, and 1:26, respectively.

My goal for this years 5k on June 6th is a sub one hour time. If I can do that, I will donating fifty cents myself for every dollar donated to my fund, between January 1st 2015 and June 27th 2015.

This time the plan is ten Nova Scotia Alpha brothers.

Two years ago it was a struggle to complete a 5km run. Last year was a test to break the comfort zone and complete a 5km obstacle race.

Now, I run 5 kilometers during my lunch break.

Voted as the World’s Best Obstacle Race Outside and called “the toughest event on the planet” I’m ready to feel the burn, again!

Event Details

http://ca-en.spartanrace.com/event-details-38

Spartan Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0F7oWljUFA

The Impact

Again this year, I'll be attempting to motivate my brothers to join me as an Iron Phi - a distinction given to a small percentage of members within my Fraternity. The mission of Iron Phi is to strengthen the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity and the impact it has on the fight against Lou Gehrig's disease through the fundraising and athletic efforts of its members. Lou Gehrig was a member of Phi Delta Theta, and our organization has taken an active role in finding a cure.

The net proceeds will support ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) research, education, screening and treatment.  It will also help strengthen an organization (Phi Delta Theta) that has had a lasting impact on my life.

According to The ALS Association's web site, approximately 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. That's why I'm becoming an Iron Phi. To do something bold about Lou Gehrig's disease.

As said earlier we have a team goal of $10,000.00 raised by June 28th in order to again achieve our title as an Iron Phi chapter, and to raise $40,000.00 in total for ALS research. According to ALS Canada, “it can cost anywhere between $200,000 and $400,000 over the course of the disease for equipment and care.

Every donation has an impact.

Iron Phi Events Completed

2012 – Kleberg Emerging Leaders Institute 5km

2014 – Peggy’s Cove 50km, Spartan 5km, General Convention 5km