When many people think of a fraternity, they think of partying, drinking, or unintelligent men. All fraternities these days are receiving bad reputations that are in no ways true thanks to the small minorities that ruin it for everyone. Little do most people know that when you join Greek life, you always get very involved in philanthropy. And for one fraternity at the University of Illinois, they are breaking down the bad stereotypes through their service.
The Gamma chapter of Alpha Kappa Lambda at University of Illinois has always been a standout fraternity. The Gamma chapter is one of the oldest, with a strong alumni network due to its 1,000+ alumni. But this fall, it's not just their history or alumni that's making them stand out. Four brothers, Angel Estrella, Tyler Igunbor, Graham Zolkowski and Delaney McGuire, will trek 50 miles of some of the hardest terrain that Colorado has to offer. One of Alpha Kappa Lambda's core values is service, and for that reason, the brothers are doing the trek to fight domestic abuse by seeking donations per each mile hiked for the "These Hands Don't Hurt Foundation," their fraternity's philanthropy.
Their goal is $5,000 by August 28, however, their donation site makes it clear that it is not only money they are looking for. Rather, they are equally as focused on spreading awareness of the severity of domestic abuse worldwide. They state that many Americans are aware of this pressing issue, yet not many are completely aware of its wide breadth and severity.
According to the United States statistics, one in four women will experience domestic abuse in her lifetime. But it's not only women, 3,000,000 men are also abused per year, along with another 3,000,000 children. And the abuse doesn't only result in physical harm, but can lead to mental harm as well.
For these reasons, the four brave men will head to the Rocky Mountain National Park to complete daily hikes, one of them being Longs Peak, one of the highest mountains in Colorado. They plan to trek from August 14 through the 19 but are accepting donations until the 28.
These four brothers are ensuring men, women, and children get the help they need one mile at a time. You can help, too.
Learn more, donate, and read update on the trek here.
Familiarize yourself with Alpha Kappa Lambda at the University of Illinois here.
