Fraternity Sigma Chi will be hosting their annual weeklong Derby Days event from April 7-13.
“Sigma Chi is hosting Derby Days to hold a fun philanthropic event to help cure cancer,” Member of the Derby Days Committee Brad Cook said. “All the money that we will raise will go to the Huntsman Cancer Institute.”
Sigma Chi has been the longest standing fraternity at UW since their establishment in 1930.
Huntsman Cancer Institute is an NCI-designated cancer research facility and hospital located on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. A fellow brother, Jon Huntsman, started the institute for cancer research and recruited Sigma Chi to get involved.
“Along with the events, we will also be tabling at the union with t-shirts and Derby Ducks for sale, which will all contribute to our goal of raising $20,000 this year,” Co-Special Events Chair Will Smith said.
“A great idea we started this year was opening a Venmo account, so students who want to purchase our shirts, or want to donate don’t have to search around for cash,” Cook said.
They will kick start their week with the Derby Dash, a 5K starting at 10 a.m. They are also hosting a Huntsman Reception Dinner from 5-8 p.m. that evening.
Sunday will consist of powder puff football and the Sigma Chi auction. This will be followed by numerous events throughout the week, such as the Quest for the Derby, a volleyball tournament, a dodgeball tournament and a spaghetti supper.
“The sororities will be participating in all activities, in order to win you must collect points, which will all be tallied in the end to declare a winner for the Derby Days,” Smith said. “The winner will get five percent of the money we raise and three trophies will be presented to the first, second and third place winners.”
The week will end with a corn hole tournament and the Derby Party, which will take place at the Sigma Chi House on Fraternity Row. The theme of the party is ‘Derbilicious Beach Bash’, which will be catered by local bar Roxie’s.
“The party is a registered social event and the winners of the Derby Days will be announced then as well,” Smith said. “It is a way of thanking all our participants for their presence in our events.”
“Our biggest sponsors this year have been Laramie Screen Printing and Roxie’s,” Cook, said. “Roxie’s is the first bar that has agreed to cater our biggest party and Laramie Screen Printing has given us a great discount on printing out t-shirts for sale.”
Events such as the spaghetti super and Derby Dash will be open to all who wish to participate.
Anyone who wishes to contribute can stop by their table at the Union Breezeway or donate through their Venmo @Sigma-Chi-GammaXi.
