Gamma Phi Beta hosted their first GPhi Joe philanthropy to support Girls On The Run this past Sunday afternoon.
The day was an all around success, raising over $1000 for the important cause. It was a day of philanthropic entertainment. Men from fraternities and other social groups on campus assembled in teams of ten with two coaches from Gamma Phi. They arrived to Patriarch Park around 1PM and competed in multiple different kinds of events until shortly after 3PM. After meeting with coaches and being covered in various patterns of eye-black, the teams were ready to compete in the first round, the inflatable obstacle course.
Team members put their bodies to the test in this physically challenging activity. Players were pushed and bounced around by the inflatable contraption, but all finished strong with little to no injuries.
The next challenge included tire jumps and an army crawl, in true G Phi Joe fashion. The tires tripped some up, but the army crawl seemed to be the toughest for competitors – and the muddiest. At the end, it seemed more of a competition of who could complete the task with the most mud on their faces. Despite the dirty conditions, each team member seemed to push themselves through the army crawl more vigorously than the last. While coaches encouraged “Keep your head down!” other team members encouraged players to bring out their inner G Phi Joes’.
The third challenge may have been the most trying so far, including a sprint to a crab walk – a skill most college men have not practiced in at least a few years. As the participants struggled to throw their bodies into a backward position after a full sprint, their coaches and team members practically lost their voices cheering. This event ended with nothing else, but a human pyramid, stacking all ten competitors in a pyramid formation before the other side. This was impressive, concerning and entertaining to watch all at the same time. If anyone could have thought this impossible for ten full sized men to do before, they would have been proven wrong 14 times.
The last event was good old-fashioned tug-of-war. The stakes were high and the pizza was eaten. All 14 teams and coaches gathered around a rather intimidating rope, waiting to identify their next challenger. As teams were called up to rope, game faces were put on and strategies were discussed. Who would be the anchor? Who would be the most intimidating up front? The opponents aligned themselves and gripped the rope like a beer on a game day. The whistled sounded and coaches erupted with spirit. Teams strategized yelling, “PULL!” and pulling with all their might. Teams were eliminated one by one until a victor was named.
The winning teams were Sigma Phi Epsilon in first, Pi Kappa Phi in second place, and Psi Upsilon in third. All the teams absolutely left everything on the field and proved to all be true G Phi Joes.
