Theta Fall Breakaway Run/Walk Saturday
Sorority raises money for abused children
By Andrew Donovan
Staff Reporter

Kappa Alpha Theta members say they hope to continue giving voices to abused and neglected children with its seventh annual Fall Breakaway.

The five-kilometer run/walk is scheduled for Saturday at Amon Carter Stadium, and will raise money to support the local Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program, which helps provide community volunteers to serve as independent parties who speak in court on behalf of abused and neglected children.

Co-chairwoman Stephanie Doherty said she feels CASA is a very necessary service for the Fort Worth community to have. She said she hopes the event will help the organization continue to be successful.

“We hope to raise not only funds, but also awareness for the traumatizing experience through which abused children go through,” Doherty said.

Ashley Wright, also an event co-chairwoman, said last year’s event had approximately 2,000 participants, and she believes they will reach higher numbers this year. She said it helps that the event has been held as part of TCU Family Weekend the previous two years.

“We have already had more TCU families sign up for the run than we did last year,” Wright said. “I’m confident it will continue to be held the same weekend for a while because of the success it generates.”

Theta President Lindsey Alletag said the event raised about $20,000 for CASA last year and expects about the same amount to be raised this weekend. Alletag said the event has helped the sorority raise the most money for CASA compared to all other Theta chapters in the last two years.

Wright said the organization is usually the main focus of the community service efforts and philanthropy of all the Theta chapters nationwide.

“We would like to see every neglected and abused child have an advocate,” Wright said. “No child has to go through the court system alone.”

Pre-registration for the event began Wednesday at Luke’s Locker at 1540 S. University Dr. and will continue through Friday. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at Amon Carter Stadium, and the run/walk will begin at 9 a.m.