With Thanksgiving just around the corner, UGA and Georgia Tech are gearing for up the annual face-off, hoping to claim bragging rights as the best football team in Georgia.

But the rivalry will be put aside before the game starts on Nov. 27 when the Phi Gamma Delta fraternities at UGA and Tech team up for the annual “Run for the Kids.”

“Even with the big rivalry, we set aside any kind of animosity to do something bigger than the Georgia-Georgia Tech game,” said senior Jerrod Lukacs, coordinator of this year’s Run for the Kids. “We’re giving back to Georgia.”

Run for the Kids is a relay-style fundraiser that raises money for the Children’s Miracle Network, a nonprofit organization helping more then 170 children’s hospitals across the nation by providing money for medical care. All donations received will go directly to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta through the Children’s Miracle Network.

About 20 to 30 members from each university’s chapter will take part in the 74-mile run between Athens and Atlanta. The run starts at the away campus and makes its way to the hosting stadium.

Phi Gamma Delta members will take turns running with the game football and pass it on to another Fiji member at strategic points along Atlanta Highway – up to the halfway point between Athens and Atlanta. There, they will then hand the ball off to members of the fraternity from Tech.

The Tech chapter will then finish the run, heading to Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Members of the UGA chapter have worked this semester in an effort to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network, which is also supported by ugaMiracle. The group has supported the Fijis throughout the years with the event, as many members are involved in the organization.

“So many brothers were already involved with Dance Marathon that we decided to support them and the Children’s Miracle Network,” Lukacs said.

A mass mailing campaign of handwritten letters were sent to family members, alumni, graduates and members of the community.

“Every year, we extend our hand as much as possible to support the Phi Gamma chapter,” said Fadi Rammo, a senior from Johns Creek and executive director of ugaMiracle. “They do a great job even without our help.”

Last year, the fraternity raised $12,000, and this year the goal is to raise at least $18,000.

But the members know this will be hard to do, especially with the state of the economy.

“With the downturn in the economy, it’s hard for people to donate money,” Lukacs said. “It hurts in two ways. Families are hurt by the economy, and they need the support and money, now more than ever.”