While many University of Wisconsin students will be traveling to the University of Minnesota this weekend for the next chapter in the storied rivalry of the battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe, one UW fraternity is making the trip on foot, running for a cause.
The Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, better known as FIJI, has collaborated with the Minnesota chapter of the fraternity to form the Wisconsin-Minnesota FIJI Rivalry Run that will raise money for the Disaster Relief Fund of the American Red Cross.
Partnering with Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Chipotle and D.P. Dough, the run will raise money for the cause by collecting 20 percent of sales during the four-hour dinner rush Wednesday.
The FIJI chapter of Madison was recolonized during the 2007-08 school year, and they wanted to make their fraternity stand for something by raising money for a good cause, according to FIJI President Bill Buecksler.
The idea was conceived a year and a half ago, and this summer it was coordinated with the Minnesota FIJI chapter, Buecksler said.
“I actually got this idea after seeing Virginia and Virginia Tech do a similar run that was covered on ESPN years ago,” said Chris Kein, the FIJI Rivalry Run chair.
The event will begin Thursday morning at Camp Randall Stadium, where Brett Bielema will hold a press conference to promote the event. People will be allowed to enter the stadium through Gate 1 at approximately 10:30 a.m.
After the press conference, the first of the 30 members in the Rivalry Run group will run with a game ball in hand until he is tired. Then the relay of runners begins until the UW FIJI chapter crosses into Winona, Minn., Friday and hands a game ball off to the Minnesota FIJI chapter.
“The run is approximately 282 miles, but it’s a bonus that the inaugural run will be to the new stadium,” Buecksler said. “Next year, they will start the run and we will finish it at Camp Randall.”
A commemorative replica of the Paul Bunyan Axe will be delivered with a game ball and will be exchanged between the two chapters each year, honoring the great rivalry.
