UTM students took a stand against childhood cancer by participating in the 2012 Up ‘til Dawn fundraiser.
Up ‘til Dawn is a fundraising opportunity sponsoring St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The UTM Up ‘til Dawn Executive Board is comprised of 12 students. The program also has many volunteers who make this event possible.
Typically, Up ‘til Dawn is held all night long. However, this year because of many students having midterms, the executive board chose to hold the event during the afternoon and into the early part of the night.
According to the St. Jude website, Up ‘til Dawn “is a team fundraising event where students ask friends and family to support them as they compete in an all-night challenge for the patients of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.”
St. Jude provides the executive boards at many different schools with prewritten letters and envelopes. Students are only asked to come with addresses to be able to send those letters to family, friends and neighbors asking for donations in honor of St. Jude.
Last year, the event was able to raise $26,468 to contribute to St. Jude’s efforts. The executive board hopes to be able to double that amount this year. Chi Omega provided the greatest amount of support from a student organization at last year’s event.
“Every year we try to do bigger and better,” said Tori Taylor, a member of the UTM Up ‘til Dawn Executive Board and also a senior Chemistry major.
This year’s event featured two large blow-up bouncers that were donated by UTM’s Student Activities Council and multiple door prizes donated from businesses around the Martin area, including The Chocolate Bunny in Union City. When students send out 50 letters, they are awarded an “awesome” shirt as Taylor described it. Along with great prizes and extra activities, the event was also graced with a young speaker who just so happened to be a patient at St. Jude.
Neil Allen, an executive board member, has a four-year-old nephew, Josiah Hackett, going through treatments at St. Jude. Hackett was diagnosed with brain cancer at six months old. Allen was able to bring him to the event to inspire students to continue their efforts in raising money.
“Josiah wouldn’t be alive today if it weren’t for St. Jude and they did it all for free. It cost 1.7 million dollars per day to keep St. Jude running. Up ‘til dawn is one of many organizations working hard to ensure that St. Jude stays open for many years to come,” said Allen.
The event also featured a speech by Allison Griswald, a UTM freshman Nursing major, who has been attending St. Jude since 1999.
The executive board began planning the 2012 Up ‘til Dawn event in April and has been working diligently on making it a success ever since.
“We do a few other fundraisers throughout the year, but this is our main event. We raised money at Quad City and at the Soybean Festival as well,” said Taylor.
Also, Up ‘til Dawn has gained the support of multiple fraternities and sororities on campus.
“ATO is usually a big supporter. With their philanthropy being St. Jude, they usually always help,” said Taylor.
The students on the UTM campus really show their support for St. Jude, especially at this particular event.
“It’s something so easy that could save a life,” said Lindsey Hargrove, a sophomore Nursing major.
Up ‘til Dawn is more than just something UTM puts on once a year. It is an event to help out children who are terminally ill and are in need of special care.
“I did it for the children,” said Jordan Baker, a sophomore Agricultural Education major.
Students are encouraged for several weeks prior to the event being held to take time from their busy schedules to support children in need.
“I went because I was encouraged to go by several professors and because it is a great cause,” said Dylan Brown, a freshman Human Health and Performance major.
Although this year’s Up ‘til Dawn didn’t literally require the students to stay up all night, they achieved their goals just as the executive board members had planned.
