Meeting the Miracle Workers
Event unites cancer patients, fund-raisers
Nick Anyanwu admires LSU students. His 11-year-old son Kelechi has been a patient of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital since 1997, and students participating in “Up ’til Dawn” raised more than $33,000 for the hospital this year.
Anyanwu was among many other parents and St. Jude’s patients at the Rec Center Friday night, meeting the teams of students who participated in the fund-raising activities of Up ’til Dawn.
“St. Jude’s is the best organization in the world that can take care of these children,” Anyanwu said. “For students to give their time and take from their studies, that’s amazing, and we’re glad to support them.”
Up ’til Dawn is a student-led organization that works year-round to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Fund-raising team members and other volunteers spent 12 hours at the Rec Center Friday night, celebrating their fund-raising efforts.
The all-night celebration included games, food and music. Local band Mixed Nuts performed for free, and local businesses donated all food and supplies for the event.
“God has blessed us with talent, so we give back to the community,” said Mixed Nuts drummer and construction management senior Joey Berry.
The evening’s activities also included Wacky Olympics, games for St. Jude’s prizes, karaoke, a male beauty pageant and a rendition of the dating game “Singled Out.”
Participants started the night with testimonies from St. Jude’s patients and their families, as well as thankful speeches from student leaders and administrators.
“The University is a research institution, and so we recognize the value of giving to a research hospital,” said D’Ann Morris, assistant to the vice chancellor of Student Life and Academic Services. “At LSU, learning goes beyond the classroom; it’s about being human beings and giving something back.”
John Price’s daughter Halley is in remission from cancer, thanks to St. Jude’s.
“This fund raising is wonderful because St. Jude’s exists off of the donations of people all over the world,” Price said. Halley now is a part-time student at LSU.
The medical director for the St. Jude’s affiliate hospital in Baton Rouge, Dr. Sheila Moore, spoke about what life is like for a St. Jude’s patient and things the hospital is doing to make their lives easier.
“When you hear their stories, your heart just goes out to those families,” said mass communication sophomore Danny Rockwell.
Up ’til Dawn helps organize teams of six students each to participate in a letter-writing campaign, asking friends, family and businesses to donate to St. Jude’s. There were 32 teams this year, and student organizations such as fraternities, sororities and service organizations put together teams to raise funds for the cause.
Mass communication senior Kimberly Allen was part of a team put together by Student Government’s executive staff.
“Everyone on staff has some personal tie to St. Jude’s,” Allen said. “We felt this was the perfect organization to get behind.”
English freshman and Up ’til Dawn committee member Lori King is a cancer survivor who received treatment from St. Jude’s. She said she is impressed with the hard work students put in this year.
“It means a lot to me that LSU is willing to stand up and say they support this cause,” King said.
Elementary education senior Kelly Taylor said when she heard about Up ’til Dawn, she put together a team of her friends to help fund raise.
“My dad had cancer, so it just meant a lot when I heard about this,” Taylor said.
Kayla Gagnet