Sigma Chi raises $5,000 from Derby Days week for Huntsman Cancer Institute

Then numbers are in and Sigma Chi fraternity raised $5,000 for cancer research during their annual Derby Days event in October.

“The thing that made it the absolute most successful is the participating of all the sororities on campus because it’s a competition among them,” Derby Days chairman and Jackson senior Clay McAndrews said.

Several sororities of the Greek community participated in the fundraising event, held the week of Oct. 7, where they competed against one another for the title of Derby Days Champion. The event featured a talent show, date auctions and other contests in Plachta Auditorium.

“I’ve been in the group (for) five years, so I’ve seen it every year improve,” senior Taylor Jackson of Mount Pleasant said. “I really enjoy seeing the support and excitement, and sororities that are participating.”

Zeta Tau Alpha was pronounced the winner and also received a cash prize of $250 to $500 to donate to the philanthropy of their choice.

The fraternity donated the proceeds of the event to the Huntsman Cancer Institute, a cancer research facility and hospital located in Salt Lake City, Utah, in hopes that it will help them find the cause and cure of cancer and develop better treatment for those with the disease.

“It’s a lot of fun and I’m passionate about the cause because everyone’s affected by cancer,” Jackson said. “Our fraternity has many members that have been affected by cancer. I have personal friends (whose) families have been affected by cancer.”

The chapter announced HCI as its public service project in 2005 and has been working with it ever since.

“Every chapter around the world does Derby Days every single year,” McAndrews said. “Every single city has a chapter. In fact, over 200 chapters, and they’re all contributing the money they make to the HCI; it’s not just us at Central.”

The chapter that raises the most money each year receives national recognition from the Sigma Chi headquarters.

“Sometimes it’s plaques and trophies,” McAndrews said. “There (are) some groups that have a lot of alumni donors and they can make up to $50,000, $60,000 on Derby Days.”

McAndrews said this event would help the Greek community put away the negative stereotypes and show people there is more to being Greek than partying.

“It makes us feel really good when we can tell people that aren’t in Greek life (that) we raised thousands of dollars to go to the cancer research,” McAndrews said. “And they just say ‘oh, really, I never knew that.’”