Up ’til Dawn Raises Money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 25, 2005
Kathleen McPartland
530-898-4260
Larry Bassow, Housing and Food Service
530-898-6325
Up ’til Dawn Raises Money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
The fifth annual student-sponsored Up ’til Dawn event at California State University, Chico will be held Monday evening, November 7. Anyone is welcome to join students in a night of letter writing, fun and education on the work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in treating and researching childhood cancer and other catastrophic diseases.
The event begins at 5 pm in the BMU Auditorium. Letter writing supplies and food will be available for participants to write to friends and family asking for donations for the work of St. Jude’s.
A special guest, 11-year-old Ramon Hernandez, and his family from Mexico, will be in Chico for the “Up ’til Dawn” fundraising event. Ramon was first diagnosed with Acute Limphoblastic Leukemia when he was six years old. After several years of treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, he won his fight against the cancer. “He now spends most of his time running and playing with his friends,” said his parents. “St. Jude is the best thing that has ever happened to us, and we are very thankful.”
CSU, Chico president Paul J. Zingg will talk to participants about the importance of the work they are doing. In the last four years, the Up ’til Dawn program in Chico has raised over $200,000. Last year, CSU, Chico finished 6th in the nation with contributions totaling just over $80,000.
More than 900 students are expected to take part in Up ’til Dawn this year. The Up ’til Dawn student board has made presentations to the student community, especially in the residence halls and to fraternities and sororities, and these presentations have been met with an overwhelmingly positive response, said Larry Bassow, University Housing and Food Service and an advisor to the event.
Although St. Jude Hospital is located in Memphis, Tenn., doctors and hospitals use its work throughout the world. The hospital, founded by entertainer Danny Thomas, is committed to treating all children, no matter what their economic situation.
“The daily operating costs of the hospital total more than $1 million a day,” said Chris Champagne, co-director of the program. “When participants hear about Up ’til Dawn and learn about the high cost of running the hospital and the fact that patient’s families never see a bill for the expensive treatments that their children receive, they get excited about helping to make a difference in these children’s’ lives.”
For more information, please contact Champagne at 530-680-1571 or Bassow at 530-898-6325.
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