HomeDane Haket
California Phi - Chapman University
My Iron Phi Story
Welcome to my Personal Iron Phi Page
As I approach graduation this May from Chapman University, with a degree in Computer Science Engineering and continue into my Integrated Masters program in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, I have been reflecting on how I want to close this chapter of my undergraduate experience. This is my final year participating in activities with Phi Delta Theta, and I wanted it to represent more than tradition. I wanted it to stand for impact.
I’ve set out to earn the title of Iron Phi, a distinction achieved by only a small percentage of Phi Delta Theta members. The Iron Phi program strengthens both our Fraternity and its impact in the fight against Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) through athletic challenges and fundraising. Lou Gehrig — one of the most legendary members of Phi Delta Theta — inspired this cause. Through Iron Phi, we continue his legacy by raising funds for the Live Like Lou Foundation and Phi Delta Theta. Together, these organizations support ALS research and care for families living with the disease, while also investing in leadership and educational opportunities for Phi Delts.
ALS has personally affected my family, by losing two close friends to this disease. Witnessing the courage required to face ALS, and the absence of a cure, has stayed with me and resonated deeply. It is a disease that demands urgency, innovation, and sustained commitment.
My decision to participate is also shaped by my own experience currently managing an autoimmune disease. Living with health challenges has reinforced how fragile and how resilient the human body can be. It has taught me discipline, perspective, and empathy. Iron Phi is a way for me to translate those lessons into action. Every 90 minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with ALS, a progressive disease that affects the nerve cells responsible for muscle movement. There’s currently no cure, which is why I’m pushing myself physically and mentally to make a difference.
As someone entering a field centered on engineering and problem solving, I believe deeply in investing in research that advances solutions. Medical breakthroughs do not happen by accident. They happen because people choose to support them.
I have set a personal fundraising goal of $5,000 and I would love your support in reaching it. As a lifelong athlete and swimmer, I am completing the Iron Phi Challenge by swimming 10,000 yards. If you are able to contribute to this effort, I would be sincerely grateful. Any amount moves us closer to better treatments and ultimately a cure. If a donation is not possible, sharing this message would mean just as much. You can make a tax-deductible donation directly on this page by clicking “Make a Donation” below the thermometer.
Thank you for supporting me in this final undergraduate commitment and for standing with families affected by ALS. The Live Like Lou Foundation and its mission to “Leave ALS Better Than We Found It,” is something that we can all strive for.
With gratitude,
Dane
Live Like Lou
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How Does My Donation Make a Difference?
Your donation towards an Iron Phi athlete equally supports two very important things: Supporting ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) through research and support of ALS families and leadership development for undergraduate members of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.
At the end of each year calendar year, the LiveLikeLou Foundation grants dollars raised through Iron Phi to fund its initiatives that support ALS research, scholarships to support the higher education goals of ALS dependents, and summer camp experiences for children who have a parent or grandparent with ALS.
Dollars used for undergraduate leadership development have and continue to help Phi Delta Theta educate more of its undergraduate members as they work to “Become the Greatest Version of Themselves.”
