Eastern athletics helping a country in need

After a devastating earthquake hit Haiti in January and the world saw the enormous amount of need that exists in the country, people everywhere longed for ways to reach out and help.

Now, four months later, groups everywhere are coming up with creative ways to raise funds to support the country.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association founded the NCAA Haitian Humanitarian Relief, and each of its three divisions donated $100,000 to the aid organization. Following its establishment, the NCAA asked the schools within each division to work together to match the amount donated by their respective divisions through fundraisers.

Eastern’s Student Athlete Advisory Council, a group made up of representatives from each athletic team, took on the NCAA’s challenge and will be holding a 30-hour famine on April 24 to 25.

The event, “Going Hungry for Haiti,” was designed to not only attract sponsors, but also help students get a small taste of what many Haitians experienced after the earthquake, when food and water were especially scarce.

“It’s not so much the fact that we’re doing it for money, but we’re going to be in thought about it a lot,” first-year Heather Kauffman, who is helping to organize the event, said. “It’s a mind-opener and just a reminder of it too.”

Junior Danielle Danser spearheaded the formation of the event and organized a full schedule of activities for all participants.

The fast is slated to begin at 10:30 a.m. on April 24 and end at 4:30 p.m. on April 25 with the Athletic Awards Banquet.

The event schedule includes a movie in the Main Gym at 5 p.m. on April 24 and a 2 p.m. kickball game and water-chugging contest on the turf the following day. The last hour of fasting will include a time for worship and devotions.

While the event is hosted by the athletics department, all students and faculty are invited to join in the fundraiser to help restore Haiti.

In addition to the 30-hour-long fast, SAAC will also be selling t-shirts to raise money at several home games.

To participate in “Going Hungry for Haiti” and start collecting sponsors, contact Danser, ddanser@eastern.edu or Kauffman, hkauffma@eastern.edu.