MC students support St. Jude

    The month of September is childhood cancer awareness month. There were many events that took place to help raise money and awareness for childhood cancer patients throughout the month.

    St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital holds an annual walk as a fundraiser. This year the Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer took place on Sept. 26. The walk occurs each year at the Knoxville Zoo.

    Members of Maryville College’s chapter of Up ‘til Dawn (UTD), an organization that works alongside St. Jude, were among the estimated 1,000 people at the event to participate in it. Five of the members and their advisor, Kristin Gourley, showed up at 6 a.m. to volunteer at the event.

    Those who were volunteers helped with set up and breakdown for the event. They were also the ones who welcomed those taking part in the event as they arrived.

    The event overall was a major success for the community. The event raised a total amount of 137,000 dollars. 539 dollars of that came from the funds raised by the MC UTD team, which placed the group into the top donators for the event. The members of UTD broke their personal goal, which they set at 500 dollars.

    The funds that were raised at the event are going to help pay the medical costs of the patients at St. Jude. None of the patients have to pay anything to St. Jude for being there. All costs are covered by donations.

    The cost for St. Jude to keep their doors open is $1.8 million a day. Having a large event, like the walk, to raise money for the hospital is very helpful.

    The students who attended the event said it was an experience that they were happy to be a part of. They recall the event to be one filled with laughter and courage. Overall they said it was an amazing thing to get to be involved with.