The Pi Delta Psi fraternity will be holding the March of Dimes on Sunday in front of Milican Hall to honor the baby son of a PDP member, who was born premature.
All are invited to join the 3-mile walk, which begins at 2 p.m.
Parker Edward Chen is the son of Ed Chen, who is a PDP member from the State University of New York at Albany. Pi Delta Psi fraternities from around the nation all hold the March of Dimes this time of year to benefit Parker and the Children’s Miracle Network.
Parker was born two and half months early, and spent the first seven months of his life in the intensive care unit of Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. He was recently transferred to a rehab center in New Jersey, and is doing much better, according to his father.
“It’s amazing, the amount of support that is showed for this type of situation,” said Ed Chen. “It means a lot to my wife and I that people are realizing the issue of premature births and that there needs to be more research.”
Parker will be turning one on April 10.
Aldrynn Estacio, a member of the PDP fraternity who is holding the event, feels that it benefits not only Parker, but the self-esteem of his fraternity as well.
“We really just want to help out,” said Estacio. “It makes us feel good, the fact that we are helping people in need. It betters the self-esteem of our fraternity as a whole.”
The PDP fraternity at UCF has been collecting donations in front of the Student Union this week for the March of Dimes, which is their national philanthropy.
Ricky Ly, a member of the PDP fraternity, wants this event to increase awareness.
“The March will help us to make an impact on the community, especially for people that value family,” Ly said. “We want to increase awareness and hopefully others will learn the effects of premature births.”
Lap Nguyen, also a member of the PDP fraternity, feels that an event as powerful as this one brings the community closer together.
“With the March, we can reach out and bring the community together,” said Nguyen. “It makes our fraternity bond more and makes us feel like we did something positive. We can benefit a brother in need and bring something to the community.”
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