Haunted House Fundraiser Supports UNL Fraternity Brother
Phi Delta Theta raises money for alum recovering from cardiac arrest
Lincoln, Neb. (KLKN) — A longtime Halloween tradition at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is taking on a special meaning this year as members of Phi Delta Theta raise money for a fraternity brother recovering from cardiac arrest.
For 13 years, the fraternity has hosted its annual “Nightmare on R Street” haunted house to raise money for charitable causes. This year, proceeds will support Brayan Van Meter, a former fraternity member who remains hospitalized following a medical emergency earlier this month.
Van Meter was running his third half marathon in Kansas City on Oct. 17 when he collapsed around mile 11 and went into cardiac arrest.
According to an update from his family, bystanders performed CPR for approximately 20 minutes before paramedics arrived. Paramedics continued CPR for another 15 minutes before successfully reviving him.
He was taken to Saint Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, where he was placed in a medically induced coma. His family has reported complications affecting his lungs and kidneys, along with concerns about his neurological recovery.
Back in Lincoln, his fraternity brothers say Van Meter has always been someone who brings people together.
“When you’re moving into a place for the first time, you kind of don’t really know anybody, and you’re kind of getting to know everybody, and Brayan made himself really, really available for all of us,” said Jack Kohout, a Phi Delta Theta member.
For some members, news of Van Meter’s collapse hit close to home.
“We’d done multiple half marathons with Brayan, and it’s probably some of the last memories that I have with him, is running the Lincoln half marathon in the spring,” said Thomas Gardner, another fraternity member.
With the fraternity’s largest fundraiser of the year approaching, members quickly decided to redirect the proceeds to support Van Meter and his family.
“I think it was just one text from somebody: hey, we should see if we can get all these proceeds to go to Brayan and his family. And it was pretty instant from there,” Gardner said.
The fraternity had already raised approximately $7,000 as of Wednesday, with members working to sell tickets and spread the word about the event.
Charles Fehringer, Phi Delta Theta’s philanthropy chair, said the response has extended beyond current fraternity members.
“We’ve seen it, juniors, seniors, even guys that have graduated, have gotten involved and sold tickets and got the word out. So I’m very thankful,” Fehringer said.
All proceeds from the two-night haunted house will go toward Van Meter’s medical expenses and recovery costs.
For his fraternity brothers, the fundraiser is an opportunity to give back to someone who spent much of his time helping others.
Van Meter was previously involved in the fraternity’s Iron Phi program, participating in athletic fundraising efforts supporting the fight against ALS.
“So many of us think about his family, his parents, his siblings, his fiancée every single day,” said Phi Delta Theta member Jackson Ingvoldstad. “And we are doing everything we can from afar to keep them in our prayers and to do something to help them in a way that, in a situation that feels helpless at times.”
Nightmare on R Street will take place Wednesday, Oct. 28, and Thursday, Oct. 29, from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Phi Delta Theta house, located at 1545 R Street in Lincoln.
Admission is $10, with all proceeds supporting Van Meter and his family.
In an update shared on his CaringBridge page, Van Meter’s family thanked the community for its continued support.
“Brayan has been surrounded by so much love these past few days. He has always been a fighter, and we know he’s going to keep giving this everything he’s got,” the family wrote.
His family said they will continue sharing updates as they learn more about his recovery.
