The Anderson Athletic & Recreation Complex field house was crowded with students, tables and masses of paper for the Up ‘til Dawn letter-writing event Tuesday night.

The event will help raise money for the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, a facility that helps find treatments for children with cancer.

Senior Meran Kreibich, the event coordinator, said the night was also meant to help promote St. Jude’s cause, and she said the turnout was excellent, with nearly 300 students. Kreibich’s cousin died of cancer at 13, so she said she feels a personal connection with the fundraiser.

Students who participated in the event formed teams to tackle the letter-writing process. The teams received “spirit points” for the number of letters they wrote and for participating in other events throughout the evening. At the spring Up ‘til Dawn finale event, the team with the most “spirit points” will receive a prize.

Some students, such as senior Parker Olson, also received service hours. Olson, who was fulfilling the requirements of his Business 200 course, said he liked the atmosphere of the event and thought it was a great cause.

“I just felt good after volunteering,” Olson said.

Olson said he didn’t have a set goal for how many letters he would write. He instead planned on writing letters until 11 p.m.

Sophomore Emily Wilson said she thought the event was “just fun” and a great way to make a difference.

Nathan Spencer can be reached at spen9079@stthomas.edu.