“The walk-a-thon is essentially a 12-hour fund-raiser in which we all come together to raise money and awareness for the Heart Association,” said Kristen Fratus, recruitment counselor for Panhellenic. Panhellenic is the governing body that oversees the three national sororities on campus: Alpha Sigma Tau, Sigma Sigma Sigma, and Phi Sigma Sigma.
“As college students, we have the opportunity to utilize the gym and to speak to professors of nutrition about what to eat to keep us healthy,” said Steph Kerrigan, fund-raising chair of Panhellenic. “This fund-raiser is going to force people at Fitchburg to notice that heart disease is a problem everywhere and we need to start preventing it now.”
Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in America today, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC has also determined that obesity can be a contributing factor to heart disease, and recommends a healthy diet and regular exercise as preventative measures.
Students are invited to join Panhellenic on Nov. 4 on the Quad from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to make strides against heart disease. Donations are welcomed.