On Nov. 19 students on campus will be taking off their clothes and taking off running.
It might be cold, but they will be doing it for charity; the Nearly Naked Mile is a clothing drive hosted by the Student Alumni Ambassadors.
The clothes the students take off will be collected and donated to Camp Wawbeek, which is an extension of the Easter Seals. Circle K, a leadership organization on campus, will co-host the event.
Registration for the event will take place at 5:30 p.m. on the day of, and entails meeting at the Pollock House and signing a waiver. The actual race begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Pollock House, and there will be a mile of campus blocked off and mapped out for the participants to run or walk on, leading them to the food and beverages that will be offered afterward.
This will be the third annual Nearly Naked Mile, and the second time they will be donating to the Easter Seals. Emily Diedrich, who has been working on the Nearly Naked Mile since its inception, estimates that more than six large garbage bags were filled and donated last year.
They hope that as they continue the tradition, the amount will continue to expand.
According to Diedrich, it is a “fun, energetic event,” and a good cause that everyone can participate in.
“It’s important to donate clothes to people who are in need, especially around the holidays,” she said.
The alliance between the Student Alumni Ambassadors and Circle K on this project is a result of the two groups sharing several members.
“It’s a great collaboration between campus organizations,” Jessica Gordon, president of the Student Alumni Ambassadors, said.
Making the Easter Seals and Camp Wawbeek the charity to which the clothing collected during the clothing drive will be donated was a decision made by Circle K.
Charity work is one of their regular activities. Many members of Circle K were familiar with the Easter Seals and Camp Wawbeek already, through donation projects and volunteerism they have done in the past.
“Circle K often donates to Easter Seals and volunteers frequently at Camp Wawbeek,” Gordon said.
The Easter Seals was founded in 1934 as a way to give new hope to those in need.
It is an organization that gives aid to people with various disabilities in many different ways, such as helping a disabled farmer keep up his farm, or setting up recreational weekend and summer camps that are safe and comfortable for disabled people to relax and have a good time.
Camp Wawbeek is an example of the latter, and can be found just north of Wisconsin Dells. It provides weekend-long camps for those with disabilities, giving them the opportunity to experience things like camping and hiking.
These are things they would have trouble experiencing without the help of Camp Wawbeek’s staff, as well as the donations from individuals and organizations, such as this one.
As Diedrich said, the holidays are coming up, and now is the best time to give to others what they need.
“It’s a great way to have fun, and the theme is a little different,” Brianna Rapp of the Student Alumni Ambassadors said, illustrating the fact that now is the perfect opportunity to be a beneficial member in your community.
Ultimately, when it comes to why everyone should participate in the Nearly Naked Mile, it came down to Gordon’s response.
“Who wouldn’t want to go streaking for a good cause?” she said.
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