On Wednesday, October 12, the Purdue Pi Kappa Phi chapter embarked in a 72-hour Bike A Thon honoring one of its own. Three stationery bikes were ridden near the belltower in the middle of campus for 72 hours straight. Chapter members were joined by alumni, friends, sorority members and Feltner family members throughout the event.
The first five hours saw steady rain, but temperatures in the upper 60s. Then as the days went on, lows dropped into the 40s. By the time it was Saturday, it was sunny and in the 70s.
The annual event that concludes after the Homecoming football game is in memory of Feltner who died from cancer in 2011 as an undergraduate member. Feltner was very involved in the chapter’s Ability Experience programming during his days at the fraternity. The Ability Experience is the national fraternity’s outreach to benefit people with disabilities.
As they have done each year since 2011, Candy and Steve Feltner of Noblesville, IN, David’s parents, ride the last five minutes of the event honoring their son. Riders commit to raise at least $10 per hour of riding. Cyclists and guys who man a donation table also hand out flyers explaining the chapter’s efforts.
It raised more than $2,500 for The Ability Experience including $826.35 in cash at the cycling site.
“The Bike a Thon is something we look forward to doing every year,” said president Ambrose Haas. “Having the Feltner family continue to come and show their support is an honor.
“The Bike a Thon has become very important to us, because it connects our fraternity as a whole; from alumni to our youngest members, we all feel the importance of the event while honoring memory of David Feltner.”
The chapter will continue to accept donations for the event until Dec. 31. To donate, send checks to:
Pi Kappa Phi, Bike a Thon; PO Box 2700; West Lafayette, IN 479996-2700. Make checks payable to The Ability Experience.