“Ready, set, go,” said Colonel Robert Beach of the Longwood campus police to begin the stampede of runners.
Green and white balloons marked the pathway for nearly 50 participants in the Run with Cops 5K on Nov. 6, starting on Brock Commons. Organized through the cooperation of both Kappa Delta, sorority, and Sigma Nu, fraternity, the 5K brought students and police officers together to support a cause.
Ten police officers attended the event, including some Farmville police.
“The best part of the race is seeing the support from the cops and having the cops come here and participate,” said Aubrey Duignam, philanthropy chair of Kappa Delta and co-organizer of the event.
The runners, or walkers, went through the track three times prior to finishing. One of the runners included the other co-organizer and Sigma Nu’s Community Service and current Philanthropy Chairman, Kosta Telegadas.
Themoneyraisedwillbedonated to the American Heart Association and the Farmville Youth Parks and Recreation. Hopefully, the amount will make a difference in the organizations, especially since there’s a bit of personal motivation behind Telegadas’ assistance in the event.
“I personally am impacted because I have a history of heart disease in my family over many generations,” said Telegadas. “The act [of] raising money for the American Heart Association will indefinably make a difference in generations to come in families all across the USA, and save lives with this research to come from this money donated.”
Alongside the money raised,
Sigma Nu will also donate about 162 dollars to the American Heart Association, according to Telegadas.
Kappa Delta and Sigma Nu cooperated to make the race possible, further bonding the two Greek organization’s relationship. Each contributed to making the race as successful as possible from cheering on the participants to running themselves.
“We have had a really close relationship with the ladies of Kappa Delta for years now. Then our organizations came together and made everything happen! I love how we all came together for a great philanthropy event and got to make the connections we have with them even stronger for the years to come,” said Telegadas.
Aside from doing the Run with Cops 5K, both Kappa Delta and Sigma Nu do other fundraisers for their philanthropies.
Kappa Delta plans on holding their annual Miss Longwood pageant again in the near future, according to Duignam.
Sigma Nu will try to enact a lot of fundraising events, such as cleaning up an adopted highway, helping the SPCA and Habitats for Humanity, as well as having their “favorite philanthropy event,” according to Telegadas, Battleships in the Willet Pool next semester.
Before these events become a reality, however, the organizations will have the opportunity to see their hard work go to use and reap the biggest reward.
“The largest benefit is definitely giving the money to the American Heart Association [and] is being able to present them that check,” said Duignam.
