Tekes Push Bathtub More Than 160 Miles For St. Jude

Common methods of transportation: car, airplane, train and now bathtub? The Rho-Theta chapter at Lake Superior State University will be pushing a wheeled bathtub more than 160 miles to support St. Jude.

The chapter’s annual Tub Push began in 1990 to raise money for Special Olympics Michigan and includes the Theta-Iota chapter at Northern Michigan University. Last year, the chapter decided to do the Tub Push to raise money for St. Jude.

“Typically, we raise anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 each year with the event. This year, our goal is $1,500 and we’re just under $500 from our goal right now,” Sam Day, Prytanis at Rho-Theta, said.

In an effort to include additional “Yoopers” in this event, Mu-Lambda from Michigan Tech University was added this year.

“It's great to include other chapters in our province because it helps build tight brotherhood and it really shows the unity and brotherhood that TKE stands for,” Day said.

This year’s Tub Push will begin bright and early at 8 a.m. Saturday in Marquette, MI, and end in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. The event typically lasts around 38 hours, so Rho-Theta most likely won’t make it back to their home chapter until late Sunday night.

Pushing a bathtub across the state of Michigan isn’t an easy task; the entire chapter, candidates and even some alumni are involved with the effort.

“Typically, one to two guys are pushing at a time while everyone is in our bus acting as a chase vehicle. As we make our final push into town, everyone, except for the driver of our chase vehicle, starts pushing as a group,” Day said.

The cause hits close to home for the chapter as well. Frater Noah Pearson was diagnosed with benign pediatric brain cancer when he was 4 years old, had a tumor removed a year later, and was cleared of any cancer just five years ago.

“I will forever have a scar all the way down the back of my head. To me, Tub Push means helping kids who were just like me, and parents like mine, who were scared that they were going to lose their child too soon,” Pearson said.

He was treated at a hospital that's affiliated with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children.

If you'd like to contribute to this event that benefits St. Jude, donations can be made here.