On October 10-11, in a lively effort to foster community and support their Twinning partner in Bangladesh, Alumni Hall at the University of Notre Dame hosted the hilariously named “3rd First Annual Iditarod,” a unique fundraising event benefiting the students of Martin Hall, a residence hall at the Holy Cross ministry Notre Dame College, Dhaka. This playful initiative, which began in 2022, was inspired by a desire to reconnect the South Quad community after Alumni Hall residents were temporarily relocated to Zahm Hall. Given Alumni Hall’s long standing support for the student residents of Martin Hall, it only made sense for this event to double as a fundraiser to support their tuition, room, and board.

On behalf of our friends at Martin Hall, the Holy Cross Mission Center thanks Br. Dennis Gunn, C.F.C., rector of Alumni Hall, and his resident leaders Freddy Rudolph and Brendan Pruitt for coordinating this year’s event.

The Origins of the “Iditarod” Fundraiser

The inaugural “First Annual Iditarod” was born out of necessity when former Alumni Hall residents were moved to Zahm Hall for renovations. According to resident Freddy Rudolph, “the South Quad community missed the Alumni Dawgs,” prompting then-Resident Assistant Nathaniel ‘Nano’ Burke to propose a fun way to bring everyone back together. With the Dawgs returning home in 2023, the event transformed into a pledge-a-thon aimed at maximizing fundraising efforts.

This planning for this year’s Iditarod began in August, as event leaders met for the first of four meetings before race day. They strategized on how to generate runner and donor sign-ups and planned the logistics that would make the event more enjoyable for all (collecting video footage, playing music over Bluetooth speakers, providing snacks and drinks, etc.).

Twinning Fundraising Through Running

This year, the Alumni Hall Iditarod has already raised an impressive $2,800—roughly equivalent of the per capita GDP in Bangladesh—and donations are still coming in through their online fundraising portal. The fundraising model revolves around pledges based on the number of laps run. During the event, active runners carried a bone with a GPS watch attached to track their mileage accurately. After the race, organizers followed up with donors via email, providing the total number of laps completed and instructions for donating.

Each lap around Notre Dame’s South Quad measures 0.71 miles, and this year, Iditarod participants completed a total of 240 laps, collectively running more than 170 miles.

Community Participation

A total of 62 residents officially participated in this year’s Iditarod, representing roughly 30% of Alumni Hall. Many others supported the event by cheering on the runners or making pledges. Notably, this year marked the first time non-Alumni Hall residents participated, including Notre Dame’s own Fr. Pete McCormick, C.S.C. (Assistant Vice President of Campus Ministry), Finance Professor Carl Ackermann, and South Bend Mayor James Mueller, a former resident of Alumni Hall and Notre Dame alumnus from 2004.

Encounter Opportunities Ahead

In a spirit of collaboration, the Alumni Hall organizers expressed interest in scheduling a time to speak with residents of Martin Hall at Notre Dame College, Dhaka, during the spring semester. Though the time difference is 10 hours between South Bend, Indiana, and Dhaka, Bangladesh, we at the Holy Cross Mission Center look forward to facilitating this encounter opportunity and watching their Twinning relationship grow in the years to come.

The “3rd First Annual Iditarod” was not only a day filled with fun and camaraderie but also served as a reminder of the power of community in supporting Holy Cross education across the globe.

Learn more about the HCMC’s Twinning Program

Published: December 19, 2024