Walk Hard

Fraternity Fundraiser Supporting Veterans Has Record Year

Troy University’s Alpha Tau Omega fraternity brothers set a record this year by raising $140,000 with their fundraiser supporting wounded veterans.

During the philanthropic effort, called Walk Hard, a group of 35 fraternity brothers spent their spring break walking from the university’s quad to Panama City Beach, Florida, over the span of 6 days.

The 128.3-mile trek raises money for Jeep Sullivan’s Wounded Warrior Outdoor Adventures, based in Bonifay, Florida. The organization sponsors hunting and fishing outings for veterans, military personnel wounded in combat, and their families. Since its start, Walk Hard has raised nearly $900,000 for the charity. This year’s amount was $15,000 more than the fraternity’s previous record, set in 2023.

This is the 15th year Alpha Tau Omega members have done the fundraising walk. From Troy, walkers journey down Highway 167 through Enterprise and Hartford before crossing the Florida state line. They travel through Esto, Bonifay, Vernon, and Ebro along Florida Highway 79 before reaching Panama City Beach and ending at Pier Park.

This year’s event included 14 brothers who were walking for the first time, 19 walking for their second or third trip, and 2 who walked all 4 years of their time at Troy University.

Along with walkers, other fraternity members serve in 3 support teams to help along the way, says Alpha Tau Omega member James Strickland, the 2025 Walk Hard event director. More fraternity members gather at the walk’s designated end to support those who walked.

Strickland walked his freshman and sophomore years before stepping into the assistant director role last year. He says fraternity members bond over the shared experience.

“Obviously, it’s luck of the draw when it comes to blisters, muscle soreness, and knee pain,” Strickland says. “But everybody’s whining together, crying together, hurting, but having a good time. It’s a great source of memory making, bond building.”