UW-Madison's Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity kicked off the 16th year of its Tour de Touchdown philanthropy project Wednesday, working to raise funds for the UW American Family Children's Hospital.
The Madison Fire Department and patients and staff of the Children's Hospital joined fraternity members at their Langdon Street house for the launch. About 60 members will ride their bikes to Minneapolis to deliver the game football to the Badgers as they take on the University of Minnesota Saturday.
UW-Madison senior and TDT chair CJ Goldberg said this year's goal is to raise $15,000.
We're really trying to get more people involved this year,"" Goldberg said. ""The best part is definitely the fact that we're raising money for the kids.""
Funds are distributed to the Child Life program, which helps children, adolescents and families maintain normal living patterns and minimize fears and anxieties during patients' hospital stay.
Janice Ferguson, a child life specialist at the UW Children's Hospital, said the money will go toward continually supplying the children with everything from infant toys to videogames.
""I think that it's really great when student groups can get involved in raising money for the kids here, and we're very lucky to be connected with a university that gets involved,"" Ferguson said. ""All the stuff that we buy for our lounges really helps the hospital feel like more of a home environment for the kids.""
Raising more than $100,000 since its first year, TDT is the largest Greek philanthropy event on campus, with more than $20,000 raised in the last two years, according to UW-Madison junior and Sigma Phi Epsilon member Nathan Fuller.
Other TDT fundraising events include a touch football tournament at Camp Randall and door-to-door efforts in the community, Fuller said.
