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Printer-Friendly ModeStudents aid kids cancer research fund
November 14, 2005 —
Nearly 200 students wrote letters to friends and family encouraging them to donate money to St. Jude Children Research Hospital during the "Up Til' Dawn" letter-writing party on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
The SVSU chapter for the Memphis, Tennessee-based hospital hosted the fund-raiser for the second year in the Multi-purpose room where the students lined up at the door at 6 p.m. Although SVSU advised people to register for this event, St. Jude and the SVSU chapter welcomed walk-ins as well.
Volunteers were asked to donate $5 and bring 50 addresses or more in order to make the mission a success. Nearly 30 teams consisting of up to six students each participated.
Jamie Haag, executive representative of the SVSU chapter, was pleased with the efforts and progress made compared to last year's fund-raiser.
"Last year we made $12,000," she said. "This year we are hoping to make $30,000."
At the party, students were greeted with a positive environment that included music, food, balloons, prizes and pictures of the patients they were helping to raise money for.
"This party is for a good cause," said sophomore biology major John McCullough. "Sometimes opportunities come to make a difference, and I feel like I can make a difference because I just lost my mom to cancer. I am entitled to do something."
Opened in 1962, the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's purpose is to provide cancer research in hope of curing childhood diseases. The center's daily operating cost is approximately $1 million. All patients are treated free of charge.
"I do a lot of charity work to help children," said freshman business major Pritesh Gosrani. "It is sad to see children dying of cancer and if there's something we can do about it here at SVSU, we should take the opportunity."
To keep spirits raised high and students energized, the program included live music, dancing and poetry. Every 20 minutes there was a raffle that included prizes such as a $10 gas card, CDs, DVDs, X-Box game console, and digital camera.
Several student organizations were represented at the party, such as the SVSU Cheer Team, Dance Team, APO, Women of Elegance, Forte Dance Team, Sigma Pi Fraternity, and many more.
"This is a great way to get involved on campus and the potential money goes towards the kids," said senior nursing student Jessica Swartz. Swartz is a member of the Dance Team.
Haag was inspired to be a part of this fund-raiser because she went to the hospital and saw the children who needed help.
The money raised will be collected by St. Jude and the "Up 'Til Dawn" program. It will go to doctors in the Saginaw area that spend time researching numerous cures to help young patients.
For more information about St. Jude, visit www.stjude.org. Those interested in raising money for the Hospital can contact stjude_svsu@yahoogroups.com.
