The brothers of Alpha Tau Omega will not experience the usual spring break fiestas. Instead, their break will consists of video recordings and a six-day hike of 140 miles – all to raise funds that will benefit the Special Olympics in both Alabama and Florida and The Alabama Special Camp for Children and Adults.

Troy University’s chapter of Alpha Tau Omega will be featured in the Travel Channel’s documentary, Spring Break 24/7 on March 13. The documentary will show the planning behind the fraternity’s spring break and how many lives they’ve touched with the fund-raiser and original charity.

The brothers will record their journey during spring break as they participate in the Walk Hard event. They will walk from the quad of Troy’s campus starting March 8, and reach their destination at Pier Park in Panama City Beach, Fla. on March 12.

“The reason I am walking is because I feel like this is the perfect opportunity to leave a footprint on something that is far bigger than one’s self,” said Ethan Carroll, senior social science education major from Mellow Valley. “We, as a group and as a fraternity, feel it is important to bring awareness to the organizations we are representing –we want to help out and this is our way of helping.”

The idea came about in 2010, as Kyle Crabtree and Austin Bivins were inspired by a man wearing a superman uniform carrying an American Flag down U.S. Highway 231. At that moment, the two organized a hike from Troy to the beach. As they started to recruit participants, a mutual friend was not able to take the hike due to his condition of Type 1 diabetes. In honor of their friend, they created a 140-mile hike over the period of six days to benefit the Special Olympics and ASCCA’s Camp Seal Harris, a summer camp for children with diabetes,

“I feel doing this event for Special Olympics sends a positive message throughout our communities that fraternities are not what they appear to be in the movies and on TV. I am walking to positively impact the lives of young children and to make a difference in their lives,” said John Duncan, senior criminal justice major from Sarasota, Fla.

Forty-five percent of the proceeds will go to the Special Olympics in Alabama and the other 45 percent will go the Special Olympics in Florida. The rest of the 10 percent will go to Camp ASCCA.

Donations begin at $10 and can be made at www.walkhard.org/donate.