Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) will be pushing a bath tub on wheels from Sault Ste. Marie to Marquette this weekend to raise money for charity.
The “Tub Push” is a fundraising event for the National Alzheimer’s Association. TKE collects donations from local businesses and put their advertisements on the bath tub.
“It’s probably the most fun I have all year,” said Jim Hybarger, Vice President of TKE. “It’s you and some of your brothers for 12 hours straight. How can you not have fun?”
Although the national organization has switched charities to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the NMU chapter has decided to stay with the Alzheimer’s Association this year.
TKE is a fraternity founded in 1961. The tradition of walking from Sault Ste. Marie to Marquette has been around for decades, though it was not always a tub the group pushed. In the 70s, TKE pushed a keg on wheels down the same path.
“Nowadays, we’re not going to drink; we’re doing this for philanthropy,” Hybarger said.
He said that the event is a great fundraiser thanks to support from the community.
Nickolas Grinwis, a member of TKE officially in charge of philanthropy, said he was impressed by people who stopped their cars to give money.
“It’s really heartwarming to see people willing to give in the middle of the UP, when we’re not even soliciting,” he said.
Grinwis said that the participating in the Tub Push is a great experience for TKE members, who work in shifts to push the tub.
“It’s a real bonding experience for everybody because you stick six guys in a car and you follow the tub. You rotate out the people pushing,” he said. “It’s heavy, it’s a steel tub. It’s not light.”
TKE will be starting the tub push in downtown Sault St. Marie on Friday, Oct. 9 at 8 a.m. Hybarger said that it usually takes them until 2 a.m. Sunday morning.
Over the years, the TKE fraternity house has burned down three times. Their latest house, on Fourth St. and Hewitt St., has not been there long enough for them to be allowed to put the letters on the outside.
Hybarger said the event is very important to get TKE’s name out there.
“I just want students to know that we’re here,” he said. “We want to inform people and we’re looking for any support we can get.”
