Story by Alexis Schindler, Staff writer

Photo courtesy of Emily Leonard

Throughout the 2018-19 school year, Murray State students have been fundraising with the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in St. Jude’s nationwide college Up ‘til Dawn event.

This year, the goal for the student-led fundraiser was $50,000; students surpassed that goal and ended with a total of $50,335.34.

The money that was raised will go to providing red blood cell transfusions and pediatric crutches to kids that need them, meals for the families of the patients and toys for the recreational areas in the Hospital.

Emily Leonard, senior and executive director of Up ‘til Dawn from St. Louis, Missouri, said she got involved with St. Jude because the mission has always been close to her heart.

“I love children and have been working with three and four-year-olds since high school,” Leonard said. “I also try to volunteer at St. Louis Children’s hospital whenever possible.”

All the fundraising led up to the all-night event held at Racer Arena last Friday, Feb 22. Students stayed up from midnight to 6 a.m. to honor the St. Jude patients.

Nathan Iler, junior from Louisville, Kentucky and the event coordinator and logistics chairman of the Murray State St. Jude fundraising executive team, said this event is something that is bigger than all of us.

“The six hours we are up represents a child going through chemotherapy or the parent waiting up with that child, the travel times and all these other different things,” Iler said. “It’s just a small way of saying we see your struggles, we’re here for you and we’re ready to fight this with you.”

Although a majority of the money came from what students raised themselves, some of it was from local businesses such as the Murray-Calloway County Hospital, Pella Corporation and several restaurants.

As many as 346 people registered for the event, a majority of whom were Greek affiliated. They were required to divide up into teams of six, and out of the 47 teams involved Alpha Gamma Delta I, Sigma Sigma Sigma I and Sigma Chi I raised the most money for the fundraiser.

Alpha Gamma Delta raised $5,745, Sigma Sigma Sigma raised $4,176 and Sigma Chi raised $3,843. The money raised during this fundraiser hit close to home for some students.

Madi Moore, senior from Carbondale, Illinois said the event supports a great cause.

“I personally have a cousin who had Hodgkin’s lymphoma and has had to go to St. Jude’s before, so I know what all of the money goes toward,” Moore said.

Many students participating in this event had reasons close to heart to do so.

Dagan Spink, senior from Louisville, Kentucky and co-sponsorship chairman of the fundraising executive team, said he had a cousin that died of cancer at age 15.

“She’s only one of three cases that we know of in the world, and the only one in a female, so it was very difficult to treat because there’s not a whole lot of knowledge about it,” Spink said. “I figure if I can give back to kids battling cancer then I have no right to do anything other than that.”

This all-night event was a way for the students to celebrate their fundraising success together as well. However, there was a requirement for entry into the event.

According to the St. Jude website, “Each participant must raise $100, or teams must raise $600, in order to gain entrance to the all-night challenge.”

The teams competed against one another throughout the night in games such as a real-life version of Hungry Hungry Hippos and a scavenger hunt; they danced the night away with zumba and silent disco. Several students had their heads shaved that night for the cause.

The fundraiser was set up by an executive board of about 22 Murray State students. The board spent September through October of last year recruiting for the fundraiser.

Fundraising for St. Jude not only benefited the children and families, but made an emotional impact to Murray State students and allowed them to grow.

“This experience has helped me learn more about why this cause is so important, and allowed me the opportunity to visit St. Jude and earn more experience in sales, fundraising, leadership and event planning,” Spink said.

The St. Jude Up ‘til Dawn fundraiser is open to anyone who wants to be a part of it.

Mary Kathryn Curtis, senior from Mayfield, Kentucky, said it’s important to reach out.

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” Curtis said. “Get involved as soon as you can because it will make the world of difference.”