Longwood University’s Epsilon Tau chapter of Delta Zeta Sorority hosted the organization’s annual Turtle Tug, a tug-of-war contest where participants competed on opposite sides of a sand pit on Stubbs Lawn’s volleyball courts, on Monday, Oct. 7 from 5-7 p.m.
According to Kate Rowe, the Epsilon Tau chapter’s Relay for Life/Turtle Tug chair, 120 people participated in the Turtle Tug this year.
As for the 2013 champions, Rowe said that the men’s division winner was Theta Chi,. The women’s division winner was the Therapeutic Recreation Organization.
While Turtle Tug usually takes place on Delta Zeta’s Founder’s Day on Oct. 24, Rowe said the tug-of-war contest was scheduled for earlier this year due to the amount of events going on during the usual time period.
As of press time, Rowe said the event raised $800 for The Painted Turtle Camp (PTC) in California, with T-shirt sales continuing to raise funds throughout the week.
As a therapeutic recreation major, Rowe said, “Improving the lives of those with disabilities is my priority,” and she believes that PTC “does all that and more for kids.”
“Every child who attends PTC has a chronic illness or disability and therefore cannot attend ‘normal’ summer camp,” Rowe explained. “PTC gives these children the full summer camp experience, but also has a state-of-the-art medical facility on site so that the children may receive their normal treatments and medications.”
Rowe added that the campers’ families do not have to pay for PTC, as it is operated solely through the donations that fund the camp.
As for Rowe’s favorite aspect of Turtle Tug, she said she enjoys it “when someone falls in the pit. It didn't happen a lot this year, but it's always funny when it happens. I loved jumping in with my sisters.”
