Every year the students at the University of Memphis hold an event called "Up 'til Dawn on the Lawn." The event promotes awareness for the "Up 'til Dawn Finale" in February, where groups of people come to support St. Jude research.
"Up 'til Dawn" was started by U of M students and has evolved into a nationwide program at more than 135 college campuses across the country.
Last year U of M raised more than $100,000 for the event. During the February finale, students who have gathered and raised money for St. Jude, stay awake all night and enjoy food, bands and other entertainment.
"The one thing that we are trying to get into people's brains is that Up 'til Dawn is not just a Greek event. Anyone can participate and everyone is welcome," said, Lauren Todd external assistant director of Up 'til Dawn.
The 24 hours symbolizes what the patients and the parents who stay at St. Jude go through during the treatment process
"They (St. Jude patients) battle cancer everyday. The least we can do is stay up one night," said Todd.
The goal of the committee is to heighten the awareness of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the research they perform, and treatments they give children with cancer everyday.
"Without the help of the U of M students, I don't think we could have made this program nationwide," said Ryan Reczek, collegiate marketing director for St. Jude.
Reczek said that \'d2Up \'d4til Dawn\'d3 was one of the fastest growing programs that St. Jude has sponsored.
"Up 'til Dawn\'d3 is in its seventh year at the University of Memphis. In the past six years St. Jude has raised more than $6 million for the hospital and it research facilities.
The money raised funds the operating costs, and making sure that the treatments that they perform can continue.
"At St. Jude, we not only treat the children but their family as well," said Reczek.
St. Jude helps with the cost of housing and travel expenses for the children in all 50 states and 63 foreign countries.
The parents are never asked to pay. If they have insurance then we will accept it, but we do not ask for it," said Reczek.
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