Liam O'Neill has wanted to run the New York City Marathon for as long as he can remember. This November, he will finally get his chance, and he is using it to give back to a cause that shaped who he is.

O'Neill, a member of the Epsilon Omega Chapter at Shepherd University and a 2017 graduate, will run the marathon this fall while raising funds for Camp Hole in the Wall Gang, the longtime philanthropic partner of Phi Kappa Tau. His goal is to raise $5,000 to help more children experience the camp's signature blend of joy, friendship and confidence.

Phi Kappa Tau is more than an organization in the O'Neill family. His father and grandfather were both members of the Alpha Gamma Chapter at the University of Delaware, giving Liam a connection to the Fraternity that began long before he ever arrived at Shepherd. Once there, he served as Chapter Chaplain and Fundraising Chairman, leading efforts in support of the camp during his undergraduate years.

Those experiences stayed with him.

"Camp Hole in the Wall was a major part of my Phi Tau experience," O'Neill said. "My fraternity brothers and I spent countless hours raising money for the camp, and seeing the impact it had on children and their families always hit home for me. Being able to support the same cause today feels incredibly meaningful."

The marathon, for O'Neill, is less a race than a reunion with the values he first practiced in college. What his chapter helped build through fundraisers and events years ago, he is now continuing on his own terms, 26.2 miles at a time through the streets of New York City.

Camp Hole in the Wall Gang serves children with serious illnesses and their families, providing transformative experiences at no cost. O'Neill's fundraising directly supports that mission and reflects the kind of ethical leadership and exemplary character that Phi Kappa Tau aims to develop in every member.

Interested in following his journey? Keep an eye on O’Neill’s fundraising progress here as the marathon approaches.