Hoosier Derby to raise funds for ALS disease

This Sunday, the Phi Delta Theta fraternity is bringing a new philanthropy around the bases.

From 1 to 5 p.m. at IU baseball’s Sembower Field, members are sponsoring the Hoosier Derby, a home run derby to raise money and awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, which is the disease that killed baseball legend Lou  Gehrig.

The event is free to the public, but donations will be accepted.

“It’s Phi Delta Theta’s national philanthropy,” senior and philanthropy chair Brian Howard said. “We figured the best way to do it was to do a home run derby because it would also help bring awareness.”

Shirts promoting the event are being sold for $10, and it costs $10 to participate in ten innings. Members of IU’s baseball team will be pitching and catching along with coaches.

“We thought it would be a great way to get the baseball team involved,” Howard said. “The name was derived from Lou Gehrig, so this is a great way to just bring everything together.”

This year’s derby hits particularly close to home for the brothers; one of the member’s fathers died of ALS.

The derby will happen rain or shine, and Howard said that though he isn’t sure what to expect because the event is in its first year, the goal is to register 200 participants and raise $2,000.

“It will just be an overall good environment,” Howard said.

— Hallie Robbins