By Doug Graham

news@joplinglobe.com

PITTSBURG, Kan. — A group of Pittsburg State University students raised $18,833 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital — and celebrated by partying Thursday night and Friday morning.

Ashley Lopez, a senior majoring in communications, started the “Up ‘til Dawn” fund-raising campaign in the fall 2007 semester after learning about others like it. Lopez and 180 other students held all-night letter-writing sessions earlier this school year to solicit donations.

“It’s called ‘Up ‘til Dawn,’ and that’s because when you’re a child with cancer, sometimes you don’t go to sleep at night,” Lopez said. “Sometimes you have to stay up all night long because you’re sick or because of chemo. And if they can do it why can’t we for one night?”

Lopez said Thursday night’s event in the Weede Gymnasium was meant to celebrate what the students accomplished for the hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

To keep nearly 200 people occupied and awake, Lopez and others brought in two bands, a comedian, an inflatable jousting arena, a bungie run and a rock-climbing wall.

“This is nerve racking,” exclaimed Alex Phillips, a junior in marketing and management, as she dismounted the wall.

Contrasting the night’s fun and games, Phillips said her sister died at the age of 6 from a rare form of cancer.

“I promised my sister before she passed away from cancer that I would do anything I can to help kids with cancer and to help her dream go on,” Phillips said.

Phillips said she wants to work for St. Jude after she graduates.

A girl being treated at St. Jude was planning to visit the party with her mother to tell her story, but car trouble prevented their arrival.

“It’s awesome to see how much money you can get college students to raise,” Phillips said. “And it shows that one little thing from everyone can add up to make a huge difference.”

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