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Oct. 16, 2018
By Grace Niemeyer, communication assistant
The Up ‘til Dawn chapter at Northwest Missouri State University invites the community to participate in raising awareness and funding for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital throughout the 2018-19 school year.
The Up ‘til Dawn Executive Board consists of 13 Northwest students dedicated to raising awareness and funding for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. St. Jude provides treatment for childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases at no cost.
“St. Jude is amazing because no other organization or anything is like that,” Carina Harding, a senior public relations major from Louisburg, Kansas, and executive director for Up ‘til Dawn, said. “Going to the hospital and seeing the patients and families, it’s really sad, but it makes you inspired to help them. They’re the ones that you’re raising money for.”
While Up ‘til Dawn chapters are on college campuses throughout the nation, the Northwest chapter is hosting four events this academic year to work toward their goal of $40,000. The events begin with a Harvest Festival on Friday, Oct. 19, at Dot Family Farm.
Students also may register a team of six to participate in the Big Event on Feb. 10. Teams must raise $600 to be eligible for the Big Event. Teams can sign up http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/UTD/UTD?pg=entry&fr_id=92526.
“It’s a really great cause,” Patrick Baker, junior biomedical science major from St. Joseph, Missouri, and the public relations director for Up ‘til Dawn, said. “I love the positive affect it has on everyone.”
St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. The hospital’s efforts have helped push overall survival rates from childhood cancers from less than 20 percent when the hospital opened in 1962 to 80 percent today. While its daily operating costs reach $1.7 million, an average of 7,800 active patients visit the hospital every year, most of whom are treated on an outpatient basis.
For more information about Northwest’s Up ‘til Dawn chapter and its fundraising events, contact Harding at S523470@nwmissouri.edu.
The festival is a family-friendly event that includes a barn dance, costume contest, pumpkin picking, hayrack rides, bonfire and a caramel apple bar. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children at the gate. All proceeds will go to St. Jude’s Research Hospital.
Cut Loose encourages individuals to participate by cutting off at least 8 inches of their hair to donate to Children with Hair Loss. Participants should arrive with their hair straightened, a comb, pony tail holder, scissors, ruler and a trusted friend. Cosmetologists will be on site to round out edges. Attendance is free and the Up ‘til Dawn executive board will be selling T-shirts at the event. Sign up by clicking here.
Up ‘til Dawn’s annual Colden Pond Plunge encourages the Northwest community to donate money on behalf of volunteers who are willing to “take the plunge” and raise awareness for pediatric cancer.
The annual Up ‘til Dawn challenge is a tribute to the patients and families who undergo sleepless nights during treatment. Teams of six who raise at least $600 are invited to attend the all-night celebration of fundraising, which will include games, food and prizes.
