Up ‘til Dawn is a fundraising event for the hospital from 5 to 9 p.m. in the Rotunda of the Bovee University Center.

“The name signifies the many hours the parents are up with their sick children,” said Karen Arthur, adviser to the Up ‘til Dawn registered student organization. “The hospital in Memphis is a world-renowned treatment center.”

Arthur said students should try to get 50 addresses of family or friends.

“St. Jude provides a letter and the students just address it,” Arthur said.

Students can register in teams at the organization’s website.

“It’s a social event. Just come and hang out and have fun,” said Algonac sophomore Stacy Rix, the RSO’s executive director. “We’re only asking for an hour of people’s time.”

The event will have a carnival theme with food and games. The team to address the most letters will get a plaque from St. Jude and a Buffalo Wild Wings party, Rix said.

“The whole concept is that we want the kids at St. Jude to have the same experiences we did, like graduating from high school and having their first day at college,” Rix said. “It’s all about how many people we can save.”

Rix said the RSO has been on campus about five years and raised more than $68,000 in that time.

Central Michigan University is one of many schools in the country that holds a fundraising event for the organization, he said.

“Last year everybody together raised $7 million. That can run the hospital for an entire week,” Rix said. “It’s a nonprofit hospital so it relies on donations.”

Last year the event raised more than $10,000 with a $20,000 goal for this year, Rix said.

“We want to get as many people as possible,” Rix said. “It’s a great group that actually makes a difference.”

Up ‘Til Dawn was formed last spring when a representative from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital contacted group president Jenny Lopez about forming a community-wide RSO after she helped the Greek community raise $20,000 for the hospital.

Lopez gladly took the offer.

“This group has been one of my favorite organizations to be a part of,” said Lopez, a Charlevoix senior. “It is very rewarding to know that you’re helping such as great cause.”

Lopez said the purpose of the group is to plan a letter-sending event, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday in Finch Fieldhouse, to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, based in Memphis, Tenn.

For a $25 registration fee, teams of five or more will compete to see who can earn the most addresses to send letters asking for a donation.

There also will be prizes such as a raffle for a Nintendo Wii and a weekend vacation to Charlevoix for all those with 35 or more addresses. Free food and T-shirts are available for those who attend.

For the children

Climax junior Ashley Pryor started as an executive board member for the group at the beginning of the semester and said it was Lopez’s passion for the group that got her into it.

“We’re doing this for children who have illnesses and this is a cause I’m really passionate about,” Pryor said. “The fact that students can come together and cover medical costs is a big deal. We’re providing a financial means for the children to be able to receive the treatment they need.”

Lopez attended a three-day conference at St. Jude Children Research Hospital over the summer on behalf of the group.

“The most special moments are hearing patients and family’s stories about the illnesses and how grateful they all were for St. Jude’s and its amazing staff,” Lopez said.

Caspian junior Erica Lake helps the group with recruitment.

“I’m very excited we’re raising money for St. Jude,” Lake said. “I think this is a way for Central to really make a difference.”

The group meets at 10 p.m. Tuesdays in the Isabella Room in the Bovee University Center.