MONTROSE, N.Y. -- The Leos Club of Hendrick Hudson High School will host its fourth annual Stay-Awake-A-Thon Saturday night into Sunday morning and is inviting all of northern Westchester to be a part of it.
The fundraiser was established in 2008 to raise money for cancer research and organizations that provide support for individuals and their families who are fighting cancer.
"This event has raised over $200,000 over the past four years so it attracts a lot of people but we try to build on it each year," said Robert Alberty, an event volunteer and Cortlandt resident. "We're trying to broaden it and make it a regional event for northern Westchester, the more the merrier."
For the past several weeks, 28 teams of mainly high school students have engaged in a friendly competition by holding their own fundraising events to raise money for the Cheryl R. Lindenbaum Comprehensive Cancer Center at Hudson Valley Hospital Center and Happiness is Camping, a camp for children with cancer.
The event is unique and is only held in Montrose and while some people might mistake it for another overnight event, Relay for Life, Albert said the two are very different.
"There are a lot of activities that night related to raising money - there will be food for sale, there will be acts, there is also a cash for gold company if people want to bring in their gold and silver," Albert said. The company will give them cash and that company will donate 15 percent of the proceeds."
Schedule of Events:
Saturday
5:30 p.m. Dinner prepared by volunteers and donated by Coles Market will be served to cancer survivors and their families.
7 p.m. Opening Ceremony emceed by Kacey of WHUD. The National Anthem will be sung by three Hendrick Hudson High School students who recently performed at Carnegie Hall. Remarks by cancer survivor Brian Kenny.
7:45 p.m. to 10 p.m. Food, games, raffles, music and other types of entertainment, including performances by:
Hudson Dance & Tumble
The Dance Company
Dance Expression
Hen Hud School Districts Music Teacher Doug Franks band Neutral, No Brakes will perform
Male Beauty Contest
10 p.m. Luminaries LightingParticipants will light luminaries to remember those in their life who lost their battle to cancer
12 a.m. (midnight). Stay Awake-a-Thon Idol
Sunday
6 a.m. Closing ceremony
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