Ef for t to collect money for cancer patients

UP TIL DAWN, page 3 but also a research facility big difference,” Beauduy said. These groups are the heart of the organization, because they will help spread the message to their friends, relatives and others around the country. Each member is required to make a list of 50 people they know. They then take the list and bring it to a “letter writing party.”

Everyone on the list of 50 people will receive a letter asking for donations to help fight childhood cancer. Junior education major Jacquelyn Flick got involved because she knew if someone she loved was in the position of being diagnosed with cancer, she would appreciate those trying to help. Executive board members are hoping to have 60 groups register, but will be happy with no matter how many turn out to raise money.

The St. Jude's hospital, which was founded by the nowdeceased entertainer Danny Thomas,and is not only a hospital

Since the hospital was founded, the recovery rate for children diagnosed with the most common form of cancer, lymphoblastic leukemia, has gone up from four percent to 80 percent. Thomas believed that “No child should die in the dawn of life.”

If a child does not have insurance or if their insurance company does not cover the cost of their treatments, the hospital pays for the entire bill. The children aren't the only ones benefiting from St. Jude. Parents are flown to the hospital and are also given therapy in order to help cope with the diagnoses and treatment of their child.

Katelyn Atwell who was treated at St. Jude said that without the donations of others she would not have survived her illness. “I've learned that you don't have to be a blood relative to be treated like family…YOU made this possible,” Atwell said.

“What if I were to show a picture protesting the war and have a G.I. with his guts all blown out?

President Bush and the administration won’t even let us see a coffin coming off an aircraft, let alone a picture of a G.I. I’d have the Feds come and break into my house at night. Under the Patriot Act, they’d probably take me away if I had a picture like that. I don’t mind the signs, but when they show pictures like that, I think it should be against the law,” Manos said.

English and communication major Bobby Maro attented the rally, and was not pleased with the grotesque visuals likewise. “Under the First Amendment, they are allowed to protest, but a picture of a dead fetus is going a little too far,” Maro said.

With projections fluctuating daily, both Kerry and Bush supporters are optimistic for their candidate’s victory.

Phil Richmond, a small business owner and avid Kerry supporter, was thrilled with the attendance at the rally. “These are only the people who could come out on a Monday afternoon; there are lots more who aren’t even on the radar. This looks great; I think it’ll be a landslide,” Richmond said.

Despite the turnout, that has been said to be the largest of any Kerry rally as of yet, Walton is confident that Bush will prevail. “It’s hard to tell, but I kind of think that they are going to come to their senses and vote for Bush. It’s going to be a close popular vote, but Bush is going to win the electoral vote in the key states,” Walton said.

Maro, however, disagrees and believes that although suburban voters are generally considered to be republican, more Kerry supporters inhabit the area. “I think Kerry has a very good chance of winning in Pennsylvania. You’ll see a lot of Bush and Kerry signs on the Mainline, but recently I’ve noticed more signs for Kerry. It’s obvious that people are getting more opinionated,” Maro said.