Up ‘til Dawn welcomes students to give up a night of sleep to support St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital with the all-night fundraiser full of games, prizes, food, and music.

The event will be held on Friday, Jan. 30. in the Student Union Ballrooms from 10 p.m until 6 a.m. the following Saturday, where students and advocates will stay up all night to raise awareness and money for children’s cancer research. The event allows all students to join the members of the Up ‘til Dawn board at the fundraiser.

The event will feature a DJ, along with free food, Zumba, and an a capella performance. Students who attend can participate in the night’s scavenger hunt and karaoke, while also watching the newspaper fashion show. Prizes and gift cards will be given out all night.

St. Jude was founded by actor and comedian Danny Thomas in 1962 after stating that “no child should have to die in the dawn of life.” The mission of the organization for the night is to raise awareness about the research hospital. UA’s chapter of this organization has been raising money all year in pursuit of reaching their goal of $20,000 for the hospital.

Up ‘til Dawn acts as the finale for the fundraiser after a year of preparation. During the event, participants give up a night of sleep to simulate the many times patients and their families have gone with sleepless nights.

Cassie Milham, a Child Life Specialist major and an active member in this program says, “I love being able to get together with everyone because even though I may  not have met these people before, we all have a reason as to why we’re here, and we’re all working towards the same cause many of us are passionate for.”