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On October 18, the brothers of the Connecticut Epsilon Chapter united and raised nearly $30,000 in support of brother Joey Mullaney, ‘17, who suffers from a rare disease called Friedreich’s ataxia.

Chapter president Charlie Doe, ‘15, was impressed and proud of the work of both the chapter and the Quinnipiac community.

“I was awestruck by the amount of support we received,” says Doe.

The brothers, along with other students and local residents of Hamden attended the “Ride Ataxia” event to support those fighting the disease. 

“I was extremely excited the entire day of the event,” say Mullaney. “I woke up smiling and it didn’t stop all day.”

Over 90 riders, including Greek life members and student athletes rode to support their fellow Bobcat.  

Following the event, the brothers hosted a reception for all participants and guests. The reception brought in several students, Hamden locals, and Joey’s friends and family. 

“Seeing my friends and family interact to my cause was amazing,” says Mullaney. 

The chapter raised over $10,000, and received more donations from other organizations. The final donation of the day came from the founder of Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance, Ron Bartek, who donated an additional $10,000 to support Joey and the chapter.

“The whole purpose of a fraternal organization is to create a sense of family, and Ride Ataxia was a clear representation of the unity and love we share,” Doe said. 

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As for Mullaney, he hopes that this event continues at Quinnipiac and helps raise more awareness and assists in research.

“This disease is rare but researchers are extremely close to finding a cure. We just need support,” says Mullaney.