In 2013 I was awarded a trip to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee for collegiate leadership school in order to prepare us for the Up ‘til Dawn fundraiser our college was hosting. This was a life changing experience to be able to see the hospital, which does such amazing things, and to meet patients that are being treated by the wonderful workers at St. Jude. We were able to take a tour of the hospital and learn many fundraising techniques to raise money for the hospital which costs $2 million dollars a day to operate and is funded mostly by individual donations. It was extremely moving and motivating to hear stories and experiences from children and their families at St. Jude. No child or family at St. Jude ever has to pay for any medical costs or the housing and food they receive.
Sarah @ St. Jude
St. Jude goes above and beyond to make the children feel “normal” by having classrooms for the kids and by having many art classes for the children to express their emotions. Here are pictures from the letter wall:
Letter Wall
Not only does St. Jude Children’s Research hospital provide treatment to children at St. Jude, but they also have a research facility where they share their findings with the rest of the world so children in hospitals all over can have the access to the most up to date medical information. With help from research done at St. Jude, the childhood cancer survival rate has increased from 20% in 1962 when St. Jude opened to more than 80% today.
Our school ended up raising over $23,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during our Up ‘til Dawn event. The name Up ‘til Dawn comes from the quote by founder Danny Thomas, “No child should die in the dawn of life.”
Up ‘til Dawn
On September 26, 2015 there is a St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at Thacher State Park. The cost is $10 to participate, which goes towards their fundraising goal of $65,000! Sign up and take part in walk/run or to volunteer during the event: http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/Walk/Walk?pg=entry&fr_id=40393
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
You can also support the hospital with a single gift donation, monthly donations, and donations in honor or memory of someone: http://www.stjude.org/waystohelp
If you ever get a chance, you can tour the St. Jude campus and witness firsthand how truly amazing St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is.