Super supporters
St. Jude student supporters took a Friday night off from the typical college life to help fight against cancer by writing letters, playing games and hearing speakers at the annual Up ‘til Dawn event.
Up ‘til Dawn, a fundraiser for St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital, is celebrating its ten-year anniversary. Since 1999, Up ‘til Dawn has gained the support of 180 schools and Cinda White, the St. Jude representative for Franklin college, said the program is represented in 48 of the 50 states.
Students showed up to the fitness center to help fight childrens’ cancer by writing letters and participating in fun events throughout the night. Some of the events that were included were an obstacle course and dancing to the “Morale Dance.” Students were also won prizes throughout the night, including a grand prize of a Nintendo Wii.
The guest speaker for the event was Katelyn Atwell. Katelyn has been with St. Jude since June of 1999. Katelyn was diagnosed with ALL, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. During her time at St. Jude, Katelyn underwent three spinal surgeries, 20 brain surgeries, two strokes and was in a coma for a year and a half. After all of this, most doctors gave Katelyn no chance of survival.
However, the doctors at St. Jude try to instill hope in the patients and their parents. Katelyn’s mother, Sharon, said that there is always a first patient to overcome the odds and Katelyn may be it. It turned out she was.
The Franklin students that participated were helping to make sure that someone who might be in the same situation as Katelyn is not ignored or cannot be helped. Sharon thanked students for their help and told them they were “saving someone’s future.”
