Students and family members participate in the Race for the Iron Skillet 5K Saturday morning benefitting Mothers Against Drunk Driving. (Lindsey Perkins)
Drenched in sweat, every fiery muscle-cramping step was a step closer to preventing a drunk driving death.
The Kappa Alpha fraternity hosted a 5K race, “The Race for the Iron Skillet,” Saturday morning in which 130 racers and walkers participated to raise money for the Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization.
According to the MADD website, their mission statement is to stop drunk driving as well as support victims of the crime. The organization has been in existence since 1980, and since that time, alcohol related traffic fatalities have decreased by about 44 percent, and the organization has been responsible for saving over 300,000 lives according to MADD statistics.
“Our goal was not only to promote a higher awareness of the problems drunk driving causes, but also to raise money for MADD through sponsorship, participation and donations for the event,” KA member and event organizer Bruce Greenberg said. “We hope this event will further the progression towards a more responsible community, that KA and other SMU and DFW organizations can build on in the future.”
There were various deadlines for race registration with prices ranging from $20-$25 and with other sponsors included, the event raised more than $5,600 for the MADD cause.
“The event went much better than expected, we surpassed our goal by about $2,000,” Greenberg said.
Mary Kardell, a MADD representative working with the fraternity was pleased by the position the fraternity was taking and felt it would have a positive impact on the community.
“I think it is so important for campus organizations to make that kind of statement, that it is not OK to drink and drive,” Kardell said. “It is going to save lives, making this kind of statement and taking a stand, it will ultimately save lives and it really will make a positive impression on their peers.”
Cherri Greenberg, a race participant and mother of a fraternity member really appreciated the fraternity’s adoption of MADD as a fund raiser.
“All of the mothers were really touched that the boys wanted to race for MADD. If they are aware that drinking and driving is such an issue, it makes you feel good that they are here at college doing the right thing,” Greenberg said. “It shows that they care about their moms, and all moms everywhere to race for this cause.”
In the race Adam Lindenmuth, a 16-year-old from Whitehouse Texas took first place overall with a time of 17:58:85 followed by SMU student Collin Aufhammer posting a time of 18:24:20 and coming in first in his age group (18-29).
Aufhammer was attracted to the race not just because of his love for running, but also because the cause had a special meaning to him.
“It’s a good way to have some fun running, but also donate some money to MADD,” Aufhammer said. “I’ve had some family and friends who have been affected by drunk driving so I ran for a purpose, for them today.”
