JORDAN PATTERSON
News Editor
Additional recycling bins have appeared outside the Williams Center to contribute to donations for St. Jude Hospital for children with cancer.
The group responsible for them, Fredonia for St. Jude, setup canisters outside each entrance to the Williams Center as a part of their Cans for Cancer event. Fredonia for St. Jude is a student-run, non-profit group that raises money and awareness for St. Jude Hospital. The patients themselves do not have to pay for any costs while being treated because of groups like this one.
Last year in May, this same event raised over $300 to contribute to the $10,000 in total charity racked up. Senior speech pathology major Alison Malcolm is the president of Fredonia for St. Jude, and she acknowledges that the group might raise as much as last year but hopes to at least raise half of last year’s.
Malcolm got involved early in her time here at Fredonia and remembers going to visit St. Jude Hospital.
“I really wanted to join a club that made a difference,” Malcolm said.
“I actually had the privilege to visit the hospital. I was nominated by my adviser,” Malcolm explained. “I toured the hospital … I went to a patient panel, where there were three patients.”
She went on to tell a story about how one of the patients at the panel just wanted to go her homecoming dance. The girl was unable to go because of her hospitalization.
“That made me feel privileged, that [I am] able to go to school everyday, but she’s stuck in a hospital,” Malcolm said.
This isn’t the only event that they host. On Dec. 3, there will be another event called “Up ‘til Dawn,” where there are overnight activities in the Williams Center. For students to get involved, they need to gather up six people for a group, and the registration fees will be used as their donation to the cause. After teams register, they will email other people to fundraise for St. Jude.
There will be a competition for groups and prizes for the winners. There will also be a raffle. At last year’s event, a GoPro was raffled off.
“Rock Out for Cancer” is another event that remains to be scheduled for a specific date.
Internship Coordinator and Career Counselor and adviser for Fredonia for St. Jude Jennifer Wilkins spoke highly of the students that get involved.
“They recognize the value and benefit the hospital provides to the children, and they want to be a part of making a difference,” Wilkins said. “The group raised more than $10,000 a year to contribute to $2 million daily operating cost, and they know that every dollar counts.
“ I am honored to be the adviser for this student group, which gives more than expected without a second thought,” Wilkins said. “I also have a personal commitment to supporting a world without childhood cancer so that my own children or grandchildren don’t have to worry about the effects of cancer in their lifetime.”
St. Jude not only supports children being treated, but works to find a cure for childhood cancer, and shares their research openly so that anyone can help to support their goal.”
Cans for Cancer will run until October.