On November 14, 2015, members of DePauw University (Indiana Zeta) and Wabash College (Indiana Beta) Phi Delta Theta Fraternity chapters presented the game ball to officials prior to the start of the 122nd Monon Bell football game.

The ball was relayed on foot and bike between the two campuses this past Friday in advance of the classic.

“The idea is to raise both awareness and funds for our International Fraternity charity The ALS Association,” said DePauw chapter President James Brashaber ’17. “In addition, it helps to set a tone for the respect we have for the event and the competition.”

ALS – commonly known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease” – is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord. As many as 30,000 Americans may currently be affected by ALS. The ALS Association is the only national non-profit organization fighting this disease on every level.

As The “Iron Man” Lou Gehrig was a member of Phi Delta Theta, they have adopted ALS as their international charity.

The Monon Bell football game, first held in 1890, is staged annually between Wabash and DePauw – two stalwarts of NCAA Division III athletics and both highly regarded national liberal arts colleges. The trophy is an old locomotive bell donated by the Monon Railroad Line which once had service between the two cities.

Wabash Phi Delts ran the ball halfway between Crawfordsville and Greencastle. Then, a team of DePauw Phis brought it the rest of the way on foot and bike.

“This is the third consecutive year for the event,” shared Chapter Adviser CJ Johnston ’83. “This year, we’ll eclipse $19,000 in donations to ALS. We are grateful to DePauw Athletic Director Stevie Baker-Watson for her support of this very positive event.”

Those intersected in learning more about ALS or wishing to donate to the Indiana Chapter of The ALS Association may visit their website.