The Manitoban - University of Manitoba Student Newspaper - Sept 14, 2005

Students teeter-totter for kids who can’t
Greek groups hold a teeter-totter marathon for charities

By Sean Dornbush

For three days and three nights, through rain and shine, the dedicated members of Delta Upsilon and Alpha Delta Pi took turns riding a teeter-totter outside the upper east entrance of University Centre to raise money for Ronald McDonald House and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Winnipeg.

These individuals endured the hardships of our daunting Manitoba summers and the constant threat of motion sickness, all the while seated on an uncomfortable piece of wood.

“We were thinking of putting a seat or some kind of futon on each end to make it more comfortable,” said Gareth McVicar, a U of M graduate and the coordinator of fraternity and sorority life.

Starting at noon on Sept. 6 and ending precisely 72 hours later on Sept. 9, the students took turns on the teeter-totter. Male students were expected to ride three times during the event and female students, five, due to fewer female participants.

A total of 45 students were involved in this project. Three quarters of the students attend the U of M and the rest attend the U of W.

Delta Upsilon was fundraising specifically for the Boys and Girls Club, a network of small community centres, and Alpha Beta Pi is supporting the Ronald McDonald House which houses sick children and their families while the children are being treated for illnesses. These organizations have been hosting this annual event since 1994.

In 2004, over $1,200 was raised, with half of the proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House and the other half of the funds to the Boys and Girls Clubs. This year, the organizers were hoping to beat last year’s total, with a goal of $1,600.

Since September 2004, roughly $8,000 has been raised for charity by all the fraternities and sororities. These institutions are also involved in a number of other charitable events such as the MS Walk and a golf tournament supporting the Kidney Foundation.

“We’ve done some renovation work, but more specifically, painting at the Boys and Girls Club on Selkirk Avenue,” said Delta Upsilon president Ryan Birdsell while taking his turn on the child’s toy. “Closer to Halloween we’ll be helping out at the Ryerson Boys and Girls Club doing a haunted house event for the kids.”