One of the largest student-run philanthropy event in the university’s history, Up ‘Til Dawn, is getting bigger.The Up ‘Til Dawn program, which supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., will raise funds through a letter writing campaign Wednesday.
With an 11-hour letter writing campaign, compared to last year’s nine-hour campaign, students will have more opportunities to support the fundraising goal of $45,000, which is $10,000 more than last year, executive director Sarah Durkee said.
“Up ‘Til Dawn is a great collegiate fundraiser because not all students can be the doctors or researchers that help the patients in the hospital,” Durkee said. “So by simply writing donation letters to their family members or friends this can be their way of helping.”
St. Jude covers all costs not covered by insurance for medical treatment at the hospital. Families without insurance are never asked to pay. All the money raised from the philanthropy will go directly toward cancer research and St. Jude Hospital, Durkee said.
“Research that is conducted not only helps children but it could help your neighbor, your mom, your dad,” she said. “Amazingly, the research results are shared freely with other hospitals.”
Leah Carnahan, Up ‘Til Dawn co-adviser, said the philanthropy is a great way for students to learn more about St. Judes.
“This event is a key opportunity to become more aware of what is going on globally,” Carnahan said. “Surprisingly, a lot of students do not know that St. Jude not only is a hospital but they also focus on research.”
Durkee said this is her way to give back to the community.
“Even though I am not able to sit by the children’s bed and hold their hand while they are going through chemotherapy, I am able to host Up ‘Til Dawn, which I feel is my way to support the fight against cancer,” she said.
Bonne McCalmont, TCU’s St. Jude Representative for Up ‘Til Dawn, said it cost over $1 million every day to run the hospital and TCU’s program “immensely benefits St. Jude.”
“TCU has one of the strongest chapters across the country,” McCalmont said. “I cannot stress enough how important this program is to the research of children.
