Delta Chi smashes cancer

BY CAROLINE CRAIN/Multimedia Journalist

Tarleton State University's chapter of the Delta Chi fraternity hosted their inaugural car smash on Oct. 17 to raise cancer awareness.

The philanthropy event stood to raise money for the Jimmy V Cancer Research Foundation. The fraternity ended up collecting over $600 from about 130 participating attendees. All of the money raised at the event went directly to the foundation.

Tylan Polley, a junior kinesiology major and president of Delta Chi, expressed the fraternity's commitment to the cause.

“Donating the money is one thing, but when you can bring a lot of awareness to a lot of different people, I think it's great,” Polley said. “Cancer is one of those things that everybody’s been affected by in some way, and it's great to know that we’re out here doing something that can spread awareness and help people realize ‘hey we can change things, we can donate money, we can do all these things to try to make a difference.’”

The centerpiece of the fundraiser was the new addition: a car smash. The car, donated by Delta Chi alumni, allowed participants to take a swing for varying lengths of time depending on their donation. Donations started at just $1, with larger contributions granting longer sessions. 

The event also featured a dunk tank, ‘pie a Delta Chi’, and merchandise sales.

Ethan Beck, an associate member counselor for Delta Chi, said that the event had been discussed within members for two years. Polley emphasized that safety was something the group had to work around.

“There were a lot of meetings with risk management,” Polley said. “They don’t like things being smashed, but we were able to talk them into it.”

The group provided all necessary safety equipment and had a certified EMT on site during the event.

The event took place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the aquatics center parking lot. Delta Chi plans to make this fundraiser an annual event for the future fall semesters.