OSU students raise funds for cancer patients with Up ‘Til Dawn

Monday, November 9, 2015

Oklahoma State University’s Up ‘Til Dawn event is raising money and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The event is scheduled for Thursday, November 12 at the YMCA.

Up ‘Til Dawn is an all-night event benefitting children who are battling cancer and life-threatening illnesses at the research hospital in Memphis. Colleges nationwide ‘stay up for good’ from midnight to 6 a.m. and participate in an opening ceremony, three separate events and then a closing ceremony. This year’s event includes a patient speaker.

Annie Alexander, president of OSU’s Up ‘Til Dawn chapter, explained that the event runs from midnight to 6 a.m. because that is when the patients receive chemotherapy treatments.

“The whole mission for this organization is to unite college campuses for one bigger purpose, and that’s so no child or family ever has to receive a bill,” Alexander said. “That’s probably one of the greatest things to see especially when you look at all the expenses that go into medical care for a young child with cancer.” 

Alexander said the main goal of the event is to be happy and cheerful for six hours. She said the kids at St. Jude are so happy despite the circumstances, and they try to help participants see the purpose of the event. 

Although the research hospital is located in Memphis, the money raised can still benefit local kids. Taylor Sweeney, vice president of the OSU event, said that Oklahoma is represented at St. Jude just as much as if it were a hospital in the state.

“Patients from Oklahoma who can’t afford health care go to Memphis for completely free,” Sweeney said. “Airfare, housing, meals, all treatments completely free.”

Participants can register at the event, but individuals must have $100 and teams of six must have $600 in order to partake in the events.

To register a team or make a donation, visit http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/UTD/UTD?pg=entry&fr_id=40679.

Story by Katie Rosebrook