The UNC interfraternity council (IFC) will host the IFC Chick-fil-A Challenge Saturday, April 24 to benefit the North Carolina Children’s Hospital.
According to Wes Saunders, vice president of IFC, the event will feature a four-mile race beginning at the Chi Omega Sorority house off of Franklin St. Participants will consume a dozen Chick-fil-A nuggets before completing the race.
“The interfraternity council was actually approached by the Chick-fil-A at University Mall to host this event and modeled after the triumph of N.C. State’s Krispy Kreme Challenge,” Saunders said.
Blake Zanardi, IFC public relations chair, said although the events are very similar the challenge was not created to be a replication.
“After the IFC was contacted by Chick-fil-A with the possibility to host the event, we decided it would be a great philanthropy event for the spring,” Zanardi said.
According to Tucker Piner, IFC president, the IFC took note of the success of the N.C. State Krispy Kreme Challenge but wanted to put their own twist on things.
Piner said he wanted to strive to show the philanthropic side of fraternities and promote an event that would really benefit the community and get everyone involved at the same time.
“We were excited that UNC’s publication of The Daily Tarheel offered to do coverage on this ground-breaking event for UNC students,” Piner said. “We’re just trying to get the word out and get everyone involved—from students and faculty to alumni.”
Zanardi said UNC students are excited about this unique opportunity and are anticipating a good turnout this Saturday.
“Right now we have over 100 registered, are expecting about 200 from the Greek community to register, and will be expecting many last minute runners to sign up Saturday morning when registration opens at 7 a.m.,” Zanardi said.
Saunders said the challenge will send all proceeds to the N.C. Children’s Hospital and even give students an opportunity to benefit.
“The first girl and boy to return to the Chi Omega house will receive a year supply of Chick-fil-A, and the first team to return will enjoy a free meal,” Saunders said.
The cost of the event will be covered by the participants registration fee, according to the event’s website.
“Everyone in the community is invited to participate, and we even encourage people at N.C. State to come out and see what it’s all about since they have more experience with this kind of race,” Zanardi said.
Saunders said he hopes this will become a staple event for the UNC Chapel Hill community, just as the Krispy Kreme Challenge has become an annual charity event at NCSU.
“Without sounding cliché, this is going to be a great cause for a lot of people that haven’t done the Krispy Kreme Challenge,” Zanardi said. “It provides a similar experience closer to home.”
Piner said this is an overall beneficial event.
“Running is healthy, Chick-fil-A nuggets are delicious, and helping benefit the N.C. Children’s Hospital is awesome,” Piner said. “It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
