Hodgkin’s disease survivor Lesha Kubacki, a former patient of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, attended a fund raising event for St. Jude in the Dining Commons Oct. 8. As a result of the event, 1,200 letters requesting donations for the hospital were sent.

Kubacki heard about the event and said she couldn’t resist giving something back.

“I was 18 when I was diagnosed and attended the hospital for nine years,” said Kubacki, who is now continuing her degree at Sacramento State after transferring from Arizona.

“Even if you see it on TV you don’t understand how great St. Jude is,” she said. “They pay all medical bills and help families who have to move to Memphis. My bills would have been $600,000 without St. Jude.”

Nearly 100 students participated in the fund-raiser. Student Activities registered teams of six to write letters for sponsorship. A goal of raising $750 was set for each team.

Letters, stamps and envelopes were provided by the hospital. Each student brought the names of 50 friends and family members. They signed and sent the letters, asking them to send money to the hospital.

Eric Sanders, a representative for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, said letter writing is the most effective and simplest way of raising money.

“It is not just a random mailing,” Sanders said. “Students are giving people they know the opportunity to help out.”

Kappa Sigma is one fraternity entering teams to raise money. Chris Delima, a criminal justice sophomore in Kappa Sigma said service to the community is an important part of the fraternity’s tradition and history.

“We wanted to do something for the community so this is a good way. We’ve all seen the ads on TV for St. Jude. You see the child’s face. It’s hard to pass up a child,” said Delima.

Mayra Lopez organized her group to enter the challenge to raise money for the hospital. She is a resident advisor at Jenkins Hall.

She said she is usually lazy about doing good deeds, and that she always wants to, but never finds the time.

“Now I’m actually doing something to help. It makes me feel good about myself, like I’m going to heaven,” said Lopez.Up ’til Dawn, the group organizing the event, raised $26,000 for the cause last year. The letter-writing party is the first of many events the group will be holding this year to raise their goal of $35,000.

The grand finale of the year’s fund raising will be the Up ’til Dawn spring party, where students will stay up ’til dawn as a celebration of the money they raised.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital researches and treats pediatric cancer and other rare childhood diseases. They have pioneered treatments that have increased the survival rate of childhood cancer from 20 percent in 1962 to more than 70 percent today. 4,000 children are in treatment at St. Jude at any one time at no cost to their families. St. Jude shares research findings with the rest of the health.

Students can still get involved in writing sponsorship letters by attending the next party, Nov. 12 at 7pm in the University Union, or by contacting Erin Gatton at 278 4694 or