In a matter of 50 letters, students can help raise money for the organization Up ‘til Dawn, an event hosted annually to raise money for St. Jude’s Children Hospital.

Up ’til Dawn will take place Nov. 11 from 4-11 p.m. in Hopper Gym. Groups simply need to sign-up and show up during the designated time to sign those 50 letters.

“Up ‘til Dawn is a letter sending campaign that raises money for (St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital),” said sophomore Up ’til Dawn recruitment chair Shelby Dirks. “You just have to send 50 letters to friends and family and hopefully they’ll donate.”

Up ’til Dawn plans to have some down time in order to give students a chance to win prizes while helping out a good cause.

“We also have a whole bunch of games and stuff,” Dirks said. “Our theme this year is Simpson College Going for the Gold. We are going to have a bunch of sporty things, board games, relays and food contests.”

First time participants excited to get involved this year include the Math Club.

“I don’t think the Math Club has done the event as a group before, but several members of the Math Club have participated in the event in past years,” said senior Jessica Keeton, Math Club president. “I want the Math Club to get more involved with volunteer opportunities, and I think donating their time towards an amazing cause is a good place to start.”

The Delta Delta Delta sorority is another group participating in Up ‘til Dawn because of its connection with St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

“Tri-Delta has participated in this event since Up ’til Dawn came to Simpson’s campus because St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is our national philanthropy,” said junior Theresa Vosberg, Tri-Delta president. “We absolutely love everything that the hospital does for the children and their families and we try to do everything we can to help them.”

Both student groups believe this is an important cause for students to get involved with.

“The letter writing party is a fun way to raise money towards St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” Keeton said. “Hearing stories from the children whose lives have been affected by cancer definitely brings the event together; you understand why you’re writing these letters. It has more of an impact on people when they actually hear the children tell their stories and who benefit greatly from such a simple thing like a letter writing party.”

Up ‘til Dawn raised a total of $21,000 last year, which doesn’t include the $7,000 raised by Tri-Delta. This year Up ‘til Dawn hopes to raise $31,500 with Tri-Delta’s total added. This goal is attainable if more than 100 people or 30 teams sign-up and participate in the event.

Up ‘til Dawn will continue to send out information via e-mail about participating in the event.