Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Sohail Agboatwala, a 57-year old, newly installed honorary brother of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity at Troy University, says one of the things that motivates him to finish his portion of this year’s Walk Hard event is plain fear.
“. . . If I don’t finish, I don’t know what they’ll call me and that’s what motivates me,” he said.
A now-national model for the fraternity, Walk Hard, begun by four ATO brothers in 2009, has become the annual philanthropy fundraiser for TROY’s chapter and raises funds for wounded veterans through area Christian mission Jeep Sullivan’s Wounded Warrior Outdoor Adventures, based in Bonifay, FL. The brothers hike 128.3 miles from the Quad on the Troy Campus to Panama City Beach’s Pier Park over six days of their spring break. Along the way, they traverse the cities of Troy, Enterprise, Hartford, Bonifay, Vernon, Ebro and PCB in Florida. Through last year, the fraternity has raised more than $840,000 for its efforts.
“I get to hang out with a bunch of committed kids — kids who are doing the right thing and doing it for the right reason,” Agboatwala said. “One walker told me that they went out as brothers but came in as family – real family. My goal is to get to know each of these guys along the way.”
While he will walk on Day 3 from Hartford to Bonifay, FL (“I have to realize a 57-year old body can’t do what a 20-year old body can do,” he said), Agboatwala will walk a full marathon – 26 miles.
He hopes to raise $10,000 for the cause.
“I’ve reached out to a lot of people about donating to this cause and sponsoring this event because it’s for a good cause for wounded veterans,” he said. “In this country where we are divided, this is something that should bring everybody together.”
And bringing people together, he is.
Troy Trojan placekicker and two-time Super Bowl champ Lawrence Tynes said he was “pumped” when he learned Agboatwala was walking.
“128 miles. I think you should do all of it. You can do it. Just wear some really comfortable shoes,” he said. “In all seriousness, this is amazing work what the ATO fraternity at TROY is doing. This is really cool, really special. These families and these heroes deserve our support.”
Another football legend, Tommy Bowden, former head coach at Clemson University, has even gotten into the act.
“I’d like to encourage you to help Sohail, who has the heart of a servant; help him serve those who served and sacrificed for our country,” he said.
The brothers will leave the Quad at 8 a.m. on Friday, March 13 – the unofficial first day of their spring break – with a sendoff event.
Day One will see the 44 walkers – the largest number of participants yet – walk from Troy to Enterprise. Day Two will take them to Hartford; Day Three, from Harford to Bonifay, FL. From there, Day Four will get the brothers into Vernon, FL and Day Five will get the group into Ebro, FL. The final day will take the brothers into Panama City Beach to the Visitor’s Center, before a final parade moves the group from there through Pier Park and into the Gulf of America.
The fraternity hopes to raise $150,000 with this year’s walk. Make an online donation or contact an ATO brother. Donations can also be made to any Walk Hard participant along the route.
