St. Jude Up til Dawn hosted the Zombie Prom in the Beckerman Rec Center on Friday, Oct. 17, to raise money for St. Jude’s Hospital.
The event was structured as a high school prom, with food, photos, and fun. Guests were encouraged to come as zombies and ghouls to “scare away cancer” and celebrate Halloween. The Undead paid $2 for admission while those who came as normally dressed humans paid $3. Humans were able to channel their inner zombie by getting their make-up done at the make-up booth.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a pediatric treatment and research facility that aims to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric diseases through research and treatment. As stated as part of their mission statement, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.
At St. Jude, families never have to worry about the bill—the hospital funds treatment, travel, housing, food and research conducted because “all a family should worry about is helping their child live.”
St. Jude shares all the breakthroughs they make worldwide, and treatments invented at the facility have helped raise the childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since opening its door in 1962.
The University of New Haven chapter of St. Jude Up til Dawn has been on the UNH campus for the past seven years, and has been hosting Zombie Prom for the last three in an effort to raise money and awareness for St. Jude.
“I think Zombie Prom is a campus tradition that draws a broad audience—fighting childhood cancer is something that everyone can relate to,” said Colby Thammavongsa, former internal director of the UNH chapter of St. Jude Up til Dawn. “Zombie prom is a great way to support the hospital because it’s a seasonal theme that interests everyone.”
Several co-sponsors collaborated with St. Jude Up til Dawn to run the dance, including the Paranormal Investigation Research Organization, the Photo Club and WNHU Radio Station.
PIRO provided the decorations the Halloween spirit. Victoria Sanborn, president of PIRO, was very enthusiastic about helping at this event. “Zombies are up our alley,” she said.
Throughout the rest of October, there will be several PIRO Sponsored events. Such events include a Harvest Party, psychic readings, and the Costume Ball on Oct. 31.
The Photo Club set up a photo booth for guests to remember this night of the living dead.
“Up til Dawn has asked us to do it, and we were happy to help out,” Lauren Granato, president of the Photo Club, said.
(Photo provided by UNH Photography Club)
The photo backdrop was decorated with caution tape, pumpkins and yellow and green lights to add to the spooky atmosphere. Photos will be available on their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/unhphoto within the fourth week of October.
WNHU played music of both popular and Halloween genres. Tony Bonano, a member of WNHU, enjoyed maintaining the equipment and dancing on the dance floor. WNHU will be opening up their new station location on Ruden Street on Oct. 25.
Over 80 people were in attendance and the dance raised over $150, all of which goes to St. Jude Hospital. The “best dressed” zombie award was presented to Josh Richards and Amanda Sudowsky.
“I’m just so happy I won Female Best Costume of the night,” Sudowsky said.
Zombie Prom is one of the many fundraising events that will lead up to St. Jude Up til Dawn’s Finale event on Feb. 28.
The Finale event serves to celebrate the money raised by the chapter throughout the year while still acknowledging the families that stay up all night with their children.
