Laughter and music could be heard around Worthen Arena as families, students and community members came together to walk for St. Jude Children's Hospital on Saturday.
Many families, including that of Neal Warner, came out to support children who are ill in the hospital at the Epsilon Sigma Alpha event. Warner said he feels the more support they have will give them the strength to keep pushing on and fighting to live.
"I'm actually a recent father myself," Warner said. "The experience of becoming a father and knowing how it feels to care for another human being made me want to come out for the families who have gone through the experience of having a child with health problems."
The purpose of the event is to raise awareness in the community about St. Jude and gain more donations for the cause.
"It is a competition between all collegiate chapters of [Epsilon Sigma Alpha] to raise money for St. Jude," Allison Tuley, publicity chair of the walk, said about the first time Epsilon Sigma Alpha event. "St. Jude is one of my chapter's [the Phi Alpha chapter] three main philanthropies, so the cause is close to our hearts."
To form the event, Tuley created and distributed fliers to her entire chapter, which has more than 130 girls, and asked them to spread the word through social media.
Many members of the Epsilon Sigma Alpha service sorority wore yellow T-shirts representing their support for St. Jude Hospital.
"The children that come to the hospital have a rare terminal disease that does not have a known treatment or cure," Tuley said. "The families of the children do not have to pay for the services of St. Jude; the hospital works off of 100 percent donations."
Tuley said at the time of the event, Epsilon Sigma Alpha raised about $1,220 in donations, and online fundraising made about $4,365. Online fundraising will be open until the end of February.
"I think that volunteering is one of the best things to do while you are in college," said junior Trish Moore, an urban planning major and Epsilon Sigma Alpha member. "You get to have so many benefits of being on campus and living in this community. It's nice to be able to turn around and give that back to others."
The participants made cards for children who are sick in the hospital and clowns created paintings for participants. A silent auction took place at the end of the event with baskets donated by Epsilon Sigma Alpha sponsors.
"I love the event because all of the money that we raise goes to St. Jude and the patients don't have to pay for anything," said sophomore Ashley Noga, a public relations major and member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha. "This is really a great cause to help children who need our support."
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