At St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, families of children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases are able to get the help they need. No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. This means everyone gets the support and help they need, even if they can't afford it. The success of this internationally-recognized charity is only possible through the help of its amazing fund-raising volunteers, and their programs like Up 'til Dawn.

This year, Iona College is putting together an exciting Up 'til Dawn program, and we need community service leaders like you to help! Up 'til Dawn is an incredible opportunity for you to make a huge contribution to St. Jude's. We have a couple of exciting projects planned for next year, with enough opportunities to keep you involved all year! Please contact the Office of Student Development at studentactivities@iona.edu to directed to the Executive Director of Up til Dawn at Iona.

To find out more information about St. Jude Children's Research Hospital go to their web site http://www.stjude.org/

Click here to print out information about Iona College Team Registration Form

Patient of the Month
Corbin Gulde
4 years old

Diagnosis: Corbin was discovered to have rhabdomyosarcoma in May 2005. Rhabdomyosarcoma is an aggressive soft tissue tumor that can arise anywhere in the body.

Corbin's Story:
Not long after his third birthday, Corbin climbed into bed with his parents so that his dad could scratch his back. It was then that Corbins father, Clint, discovered a lump that would lead them to their pediatrician. The very next day Mothers Day found Corbin, with his mother and father, traveling to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital to begin treatment for the aggressive tumor. Corbins mom, Heather, had no idea what to expect upon arriving at St. Jude. I saw other children who had lost their hair. Some of them looked like they didnt even know they were sick. They were riding tricycles, being pulled around in little red wagons. And still the cry from my heart was not my child.

At St. Jude:
To shrink the tumor, St. Jude treated Corbin with 12 weeks of chemotherapy. Surgery followed in order to remove the tumor entirely, and everyone hoped that the surgeons would find no evidence of the tumor in surrounding tissue. Corbins parents learned after four hours of surgery that their hope was a reality. The surgery was a total success. I cannot tell you the desperate, painful ache that left my heart, Heather said. Having completed treatment in March 2006, Corbin participated in a St. Jude tradition a coming-off-chemo party. Complete with cake and ice cream, balloons and confetti and a special song performed by nurses and doctors, the joyful celebration marks the end of chemotherapy for the patient who is guest of honor and serves as a source of strength for other patients and their families who are seeking hope. Novel treatments and the research behind them are what makes St. Jude unique. Discoveries made at St. Jude are shared freely with doctors and researchers all over the world, thereby helping to save lives worldwide.

Facts about Up til Dawn

• Up 'til Dawn will become the best promotion of the year, involving the entire campus and community
• St. Jude realizes what makes Up 'til Dawn a success--the students. The program provides students with the opportunity to take on leadership roles and gain valuable work experience.
• St. Jude is a local cause. Children and doctors from your area benefit from the research and treatment programs at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
• Up 'til Dawn involves alumni and community sponsors through student fundraising campaigns and awareness days conducted in conjunction with the program.
• Up 'til Dawn provides bonding among your faculty, staff, students, and community. It gives every student a chance to actively participate in a campus sponsored promotion.
• Up 'til Dawn provides your campus with a free marketing tool by promoting the institution throughout the community and country, and appealing to potential students.

Goals of Up til Dawn

1. FUNDRAISING
   Raise funds for the children of St. Jude, which will help doctors and researchers to continue their life-saving research and treatment.
2. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY
   Unite the campus and its community in an effort spearheaded and lead by the students.
3. SERVICE LEARNING
   Promote the value of service learning to all students across the campus through involvement and the reward that these efforts produce.
4. "REAL WORLD" EXPERIENCE
   Provide students the opportunity to accumulate valuable, practical knowledge through committee planning and program execution. Such experience will greatly assist students in developing professional skills.
   

2007-2008 Up 'till Dawn Campaign

For information about 2007-2008 Up 'till Dawn Campaign please contact Executive Director: Jamilee Carilli

Ionas Up til Dawn Commitment Iona College Spring 2008 Fund raising Goal is $25,000, as of end of spring semester last year, the Iona community have raised $22,000. To contribute to fund raising efforts please contact the Office of Student Development at (914) 633-2360. Donations can be mailed to the Office of Student Development, c/o The Council for Greek Governance, 715 North Ave, New Rochelle, NY 10801.