Fraternity walks 125 miles for Wounded Warrior Project

While many college students were busy packing their cars for the annual migration to the beach for spring break, a group of 16 Troy University fraternity brothers were packing their backpacks to make the 125-mile journey on foot.

In an effort to raise money and awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project, the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity set out March 7 for what they describe as “no cake walk.”

“It’s not easy,” said Jake Thibodeaux, ATO philanthropy chairman, after the group made their way through Enterprise on the second day of the journey Saturday, March 8. “Our legs are pretty tired. We’re trying to take it one step at a time ... We stiffen up and the first 30 minutes we’re kind of just getting loose honestly. It gets a little easier as you start walking.”

It takes six days of walking to make the trip from Troy to their final destination at Pier Park in Panama City Beach, Fla.

“We’ve had a lot of people honking and waving and whatnot,” Thibodeaux said. “It’s been cool to see some Troy tags knowing what we’re doing and they’ll just stop and wave.”

This is the fifth year the fraternity has embarked on the long walk, and each year they pick a different cause to raise money and awareness.

This year, they chose the Wounded Warrior Project.

“It’s a cause that we believe in,” said Dash Merritt, ATO community chairman, and 2013 Enterprise High School graduate. “If you really believe in it... this obviously isn’t fun. This is very painful. It takes a lot of determination, and so it’s not for everybody. We’ve had support from our entire fraternity on it, but this is support to a whole new level, being dedicated to take six days out and just walk, and go through a lot of pain.”

The Alpha Tau Omega brothers that have made the walk in the past were quick to let this year’s walkers know the journey wouldn’t be easy, but it’s through determination and believing in the cause that keeps the fraternity brothers walking.

Their goal is to raise $15,000 for the non-profit, and as they made their way through Enterprise, they had already raised about $10,000.

Donations can be made at www.walkhard.org.

“It’s something that definitely hits close to home with Fort Rucker so close to us. I’m from Enterprise so being raised in a military based town it really does hit home for a lot of us,” said Merritt.

Thibodeaux said the fraternity also has a lot of ties to the military within the university and their fraternity, having several brothers that have gone on to join the armed forces.

The group will continue to accept donations as long as they keep coming in before presenting a check to the Wounded Warrior Project, even after the walk is finished.

“We’ve been advertising to our home towns and anybody that we’ve come in contact with (during the walk),” Thibodeaux said.

The first night of the journey, the group stayed at local physician Mike McQueen’s home, where they were able to sleep and have a hot meal after the longest leg of the trip from Troy to Enterprise.

The group has also had assistance during the trip from fellow Alpha Tau Omega brother and 2013 Enterprise High School graduate Seth Hundley.

They had another place to stay the second night, but the remainder of the trip was spent on the road, camping out each night along the way.

Needless to say, the group said they look forward to being greeted by friends and family after arriving at Pier Park on Wednesday, March 12.