On November 10, 2018, 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 125th 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’s charity the LiveLikeLou Foundation,” said DePauw chapter President Drew Morrison ’19. “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.
As The “Iron Man” Lou Gehrig was a member of Phi Delta Theta, the LiveLikeLou Foundation has been developed as the organization’s 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.
DePauw Phi Delts transported the ball halfway between the two campuses via Little 5 bike team members, then team of Wabash Phis brought it the rest of the way on foot.
“This is the sixth consecutive year for the event,” shared alumni advisor CJ Johnston ’83. “This year, we’ll eclipse $37,000 in donations toward ALS research. 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 may visit the LiveLikeLou Foundation website: livelikelou.org
