Phi Delts of DePauw, Wabash to relay Monon Bell game ball for ALS

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Members of the DePauw University and Wabash College Phi Delta Theta fraternity chapters will present the game ball to officials prior to the start of Saturday's 121st Monon Bell football game at Crawfordsville.

The ball will be relayed on foot and bicycle between the two campuses this Friday in advance of the classic.

"The idea is to raise both awareness and funds for our international fraternity charity, the ALS Association," DePauw chapter president Jack Forde said. "In addition, it help sets a tone for the respect we have for the event and the competition."

ALS -- commonly known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease" -- is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord. As many as 30,000 Americans may currently be affected by ALS.

The ALS Association is the only national non-profit organization fighting this disease on every level.

As "Iron Man" Lou Gehrig was a member of Phi Delta Theta, the fraternity has adopted ALS as its international charity.

The Monon Bell football game, first held in 1890, is staged annually between Wabash and DePauw. The trophy is an old locomotive bell donated by the Monon Railroad Line that once had service between the two cities.

DePauw Phi Delts will take the ball halfway between Greencastle and Crawfordsville. From there, they will hand the ball to members of the Wabash fraternity's members who will deliver to their campus.

A pregame presentation will bring further recognition to the cause.

"We are committed to making this an annual event," Forde shared, adding that this year the fraernity will present about $3,000 to ALS.

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