Collegio Online

Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: Campus Life

Media Credit: File Photo Jeremy Apt and Landis Tompkins participate in last year's "Rockin' for Robbie", a 72-hour "rocking" marathon held each year by the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority. The fund-raiser is held in the memory of Robbie Page, son of the fourth national president of Sigma Sigma Sigma who died from polio at the age of 4.

The Sigma Sigma Sigma women will kick off their yearly philanthropy event, "Rockin' for Robbie," with a live band and games and prizes for kids from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, outside the Tri-Sig house at 101 W. Lindburg.

During "Rockin' for Robbie," one woman from Sigma Sigma Sigma and one man from this year's partner fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha, will be sitting in a rocking chair in shifts for 72 hours on the Tri-Sig lawn.
Cassie Shaw, sophomore in chemistry and biology and Tri-Sig member, says the event represents the boredom experienced by children with diseases.

"Without play therapy rooms, that's pretty much all they can do," Shaw said.
The "Rockin' for Robbie" kick-off is free, but donations will be accepted. Proceeds will go toward play therapy rooms established by the national Sigma Sigma Sigma organizations.

The band Faded Element will perform, and free hot dogs, hamburgers and pizza will be on hand.

Shaw says that her sorority invited alumni, along with area day cares and elementary schools, to bring their kids to the event.
Shaw says she expects more than 200 people to come, and the event is open to anyone who wants to drop by.

"We just wanted to have a kick-off so people won't say, 'Oh, there's four people rocking in rocking chairs. What's that about?'" Shaw said.

Shaw says that the national Tri-Sig organization became interested in the plight of children with diseases after Robbie Page, son of one of Tri-Sig's founders, died of polio in 1951.

Shaw says that there are two play therapy rooms funded by Sigma Sigma Sigma, and more are planned.

"It's just a good event to support," Shaw said. "To be stuck in a hospital as a little kid... this really gives them something to do."

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