Throughout the past four years, the Acacia Fraternity at Ohio University has been strongly involved in pancreatic cancer research, having raised over $50,000.
On Saturday, March 23, the tradition will continue with the fifth annual 5Cacia run starting at Bobcat Student Park, located next to Peden Stadium, at 9 a.m., with the goal to raise $20,000 towards pancreatic cancer research.
The event was created in 2008 by now-alumni Justin Baldinger, after his grandmother passed from pancreatic cancer. Although Baldinger has graduated, a new generation of Acacia brothers is keeping the tradition strong.
“This is the event we care most about and we are expecting this year to be the best year yet,” said Cory Goldhagen, Acacia’s philanthropy chair and a junior studying political science.
With no national funding, the fraternity has found their own sponsors to make 5cacia the largest student-run philanthropy on campus, said Shawyawn Sekhavat, Acacia’s public relations chair and a sophomore studying pre-med.
All proceeds from the event will go straight to the Lustgarten Foundation, a non-profit organization with a mission to raise awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer research.
“For Justin, with no national support (the Lustgarten Foundation) was probably the easiest median he could use to get involved,” Sekhavat said.
Planning for the event began nearly four months ago, said Goldhagen, who has become the main organizer.
“We’ve been able to learn from the older guys and we have built upon what they taught us,” said Collin Rooney, Acacia’s president and a junior studying fine arts.
Rooney said he is optimistic about the $20,000 goal.
“Every year has gotten better so that’s why the bar has been set so high for this year,” he said.
Anyone wishing to sign up can do so by visiting 5cacia.com. The cost of tickets online in advance is $12 and the day of the event they are $15, both of which include a t-shirt.
dm750011@ohiou.edu
