Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 31, 1990 TAG: 9003310085
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRISTINA MOTLEY NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
More than 60 Theta Chi members in pairs and trio jogged U.S. 460 for 12 hours, said member Chip Shewbridge. Only about a dozen of the brothers run on a daily basis, he said.
One van followed the runners along U.S. 460 while another traveled back and forth from Blacksburg to provide new runners and to take tired runners home.
"This is the first time we've tried to do a big philanthropy project like this," Shewbridge said.
"We are mostly a social fraternity, but we try to do some community service projects."
The state transoprtation department mapped out the route, Shewbridge said.
"I originally wanted to run on the 460 bypasses to avoid the cities," he said, "but [we] found out they have limited access and pedestrians aren't allowed. . . .
"Now that we've gotten our feet wet, I'm looking forward to diving into it again next year," Shewbridge said.
"Our biggest problem was communication between the chapters, but our portion of the run went faster than I expected."
Money was raised from individual and corporate sponsors and other Tech organizations' donations, Shewbridge said.
The fraternity fell short of its original goal of $4,000 because of poor planning, Shewbridge said.
"We just didn't give it enough time and spring break hurt us. But it was fun and challenging to do in one day."
More than 80 people from Tech organizations and Special Olympics ran the first mile of the run around Tech's drill field to kick off the event Monday morning.
Five other Virginia chapters of Theta Chi also participated in the run to cover about 300 miles, said Jared Contey, Old Dominion University's chapter president and organizer ofthe statewide run.
Old Dominion Theta Chis ran the last 30 miles Thursday to Virginia Beach, Contey said.
The six chapters were hoping to raise $20,000, with 100 percent going to Special Olympics, an event for the disabled.
"I haven't gotten the final [donation] reports yet, but it will be a little less than that," Contey said.
The the run, which Virginia police have organized in the past, was suggested at a statewide Theta Chi presidents conference last year, Contey said.
by CNB