Members of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity biked 412 miles to Bloomington, Ind., this weekend to raise money for the American Family Children's Hospital in their 17th annual Tour de Touchdown.
Bikers carried a replica of the football used in Saturday's game against Indiana University on the trip. Badger football head coach Bret Bielema signed the replica before the fraternity left.
The bikers [had] the ball in a backpack and they [biked] relay-style with a car following them,"" said Mike MacKay, co-chair of Tour de Touchdown.
Other members of the fraternity showed their support for the bikers by joining them in Bloomington for the football game.
""More than 30 SigEps went down on Friday to hang out with the Indiana SigEp chapter, and then we went to the game with them the next day,"" MacKay said.
The bikers rode to south Beloit, Wis., Wednesday and continued the journey the next day. The bikers traveled around Chicago to Lafayette, Ind., where seven additional bikers joined the group to finish the ride into Bloomington.
Will Dorsch, a fraternity member and biker, trained with other bikers by running and biking two weeks prior to the trip. He said the fraternity had an ""incredibly successful journey.""
Sigma Phi Epsilon held a kickoff barbeque Wednesday before the trip, where several children from the Children's Hospital attended to show their support.
Hospital directors organized an interview on ESPN Radio for the fraternity and called them throughout the journey to check on their progress.
""We have a really great partnership with them,"" Dorsch said. ""They are able to bring people to our events, and then in return we are able to do a nice thing for them as well.""
So far, the fraternity has raised over $5,000, but hopes to reach its goal of raising $10,000 in the coming months. Since 2005, Sigma Phi Epsilon has raised $30,000 for the children's hospital to support the development of programs like weekly bingo.
""It really makes a difference to the children's lives at the hospital,"" MacKay said. ""It's really neat to see where the money goes.""
Donations to the American Family Children's Hospital will be accepted through December. Visit
