Theta Chi rows for asthma
By: Aimie Rivera
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: Campus Life
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This year's theme is asthma awareness with proceeds being divided in half, with one share going to the American Lung Association and the other half towards the John Tooma Scholarship.
The event will last 48 hours during which members will take turns rowing in canoes on the pond for donations. Representatives from ALA will be there as well passing out pamphlets.
"We want to make people aware of the signs [of asthma] because it's a big problem in the valley," said Stasie Heinsaar, Rowathon Event Coordinator.
Last year $1,800 was raised and given to Virginia Tech. This year, their goal is to reach $2,000.
This fundraiser is also done in remembrance of an outstanding individual. John Tooma was a dedicated member of Theta Chi who passed away in 2004 due to an asthma attack, which is the cause behind this year's theme.
The Rowathon is an event Tooma had started in response to the 9/11 attacks. After his untimely death the fraternity decided to make the event an annual tradition and created a scholarship in Tooma's honor, shared Theta Chi Public Relations Mariel Zare.
Theta Chi gives the scholarships out to deserving students at Turlock and Pitman High Schools that are male, planning on attending CSU Stanislaus, active in extra curricular activities and meet other requirements that were decided on by the fraternity.
"We want the scholarships to go to guys that have the potential to be like the person that John was," said Heinsaar.
Theta Chi is a national fraternity that was founded in April of 1856 and established at CSU Stanislaus in October of 1977. In addition to the Rowathon, Theta Chi also spends its efforts working with the United Samaritans here in Turlock.
Although the exact date for the Rowathon is currently at question, Zare has assured that it will be done in the month of April on a Wednesday starting at 10 a.m. and ending at 10 p.m. the following Thursday.
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