The Georgia Southern chapter of Delta Chi is hosting the first annual Red and Buff Cup to raise money for Leukemia in memory of two fraternity brothers.

Jeffrey Horne, photo courtesy of Jeffreysvoice.org.

Brian Horne, photo courtesy of Jeffreysvoice.org.

On April 25 and 26 all Interfraternity Council and Pan-Hellenic Council members are invited to compete in the Red Buff Cup kickball tournament. Registration fees for each 11 player team are $50. Refreshments of hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks will be sold for $1 and a commemorative t-shirt will be available for $10. All proceeds raised will be donated to The Jimmy V Foundation and Jeffrey’s Voice Foundation.

“Everyone loves a good old fashioned game of kickball, and we are trying to raise money for a good cause that affected our chapter a lot,” Christian Craig, Delta Chi fraternity brother, said.

Both biological and fraternal brothers, Jeffrey and Brian Horne, were members of Delta Chi at GSU.

“They were devoted to Delta Chi and their fraternity brothers,” according to jeffreysvoice.org.

On his 20th birthday in 2007, Jeffrey Horne was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia which is a cancer of the myeloid cells. The abnormal cells accumulate in the bone marrow and interfere with the production of normal blood cells. Although AML is a rare disease, it is the most common acute leukemia among adults.

Throughout Jeffrey’s battle with cancer, his brother Brian stood by his side. When doctors informed the family that Jeffrey’s only chance for recovery was a bone marrow transplant, Brian volunteered to be the donor, despite his heart arrhythmia condition.

Only 11 months after his diagnosis, Jeffrey lost his battle to cancer.

“Despite the horror of his illness, Jeffrey never lost his sense of humor, graciousness, determination, spirit or faith; he never gave up. During the course of his treatments, Jeffrey participated in several clinical trials to help others with the disease. He wrote in his journal, ‘this next treatment is another experimental one and probably of no use to me, but I don't mind being a lab rat if it will help other leukemia patients’,” according to jeffreysvoice.org.

Just 17 short weeks after Jeffrey’s passing, Brian, 19, died of a broken heart.

All of the funds raised during the two day tournament will be donated to Jeffrey’s Voice, a foundation started by Jeffrey and Brian, which searches for a cure for blood cancers. Money will also be donated to The Jimmy V Foundation, which was founded by ESPN and Jim Valvano, a former North Carolina State basketball coach who lost his battle to cancer in 1993.

“We need money for research. It may not save my life. It may save my children’s lives. It may save someone you love,” Jim Valvano said.

On the last day of the tournament, Delta Chi will hold an awards ceremony where checks will be presented to both foundations and first through third place trophies will be presented. In addition to trophies donated from Gailey Trophy, winners will also receive gift certificates from various Statesboro establishments such as Chick-Fil-A and the Sir Shop.

According to Craig, the fraternity hopes to raise at least $2,500 for their two late brothers and the foundations. However, Delta Chi is still in need of more sponsors to make this event happen. All interested sponsors are encouraged to contact Christian Craig at ccraig1@georgiasouthern.edu.


Shannon Stuart