The lights inside IM Sports-West will stay lit all night Saturday in an effort to ignite hope for children with illnesses.
Many MSU students will spend the night for Up ’Til Dawn 2000, a 12-hour fund-raising event for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
“The night is just a chance for students to come out and have fun while raising money for a good cause,” said Josh Tudor, the program’s executive director.
The event, organized by a group of MSU students recruited by St. Jude, will feature entertainment, games, food and the chance to win prizes all night from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Tudor, a political theory and constitutional democracy senior, said event coordinators hope to raise at least $25,000. There are 30 universities in the nation that hold similar lock-in events for St. Jude, but this is the first time MSU has helped.
“We are the largest university in the country to take on this event,” he said. “Certainly we’d like to at least reach that mark or possibly do better.”
The activity is open to all MSU students who raise at least $100 for the cause by requesting sponsorship from family members or businesses. Students in a team of five or more must raise at least $80 each.
MSU’s fund-raising effort is one of many contributions to St. Jude. The hospital, which is the largest children’s cancer research facility in the world, treats about 150 patients a day on a budget completely funded by donations.
Children are treated for cancer and other diseases without regard to race, religion or their financial stability. The hospital pays for everything, even family members’ travel and lodging expenses.
Besides contributing to a good cause, event director Lindsay Spaak said the event will be a good time, with many activities for students.
There will be DJs, a palmist, movies, basketball tournaments and access to the pool.
Some prizes at stake include a television, CD/DVD changer and a digital camera.
“I’ve worked hard to get a variety of different forms of entertainment that you wouldn’t necessarily be available to do in a night or that you would typically do with your friends on an average weekend,” said Spaak, a communication sophomore.
Kyle Tisdel, an international relations junior and assistant director of fund-raising, said he thinks the event will be a success.
“The only thing holding us back is getting the word out and getting students to participate,” he said. “The more years we continue to have the event here on campus, the more recognition and participation I think we’ll see.”
Interested students can register Saturday at IM Sports-West from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. For more information visit www.msu.edu/~stjude.
