On Feb. 3, 2017, the annual Night for Fight presented by CancerFree KIDS and the Lids Foundation takes place at the Cintas Center. It begins at 7 p.m. and goes until 7 a.m. This is a special event just for the research of pediatric cancer. Out of all of the money raised by organizations fighting against cancer, only 4% of the funds goes to pediatric research. During the 2016 Night for the Fight, over $145,000 was raised and donated to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
Over 1,000 students from Cincinnati area high schools attend the fight every year, and many of the team leaders help organize the event. To attend the event, you must find a team leader. You do not have to stick to those who you go to school with; the teams can be a mix of schools and genders. The team leader will have a code that interested students must enter on the website for registration. There can be up to 15 people per team with the expectation that each team member raises $100. Many companies and individuals donate to the fight so that the maximum amount of money raised can go to research.
Seniors Emily Vieth and Lauren Riede have both attended the event for two years and have been team leaders. “This event really raises awareness about how kids our age suffer from cancer,” Vieth said. The event has many games and things to do throughout the night to keep participants awake. “You do not feel like it is all through the night, they have so many fun things to do,” Vieth said.
According to Riede, the event offers dodgeball, basketball, free food, minute to win it games, a dance marathon, and various other games. Cancer survivors give talks to the audience, there is a reflection period, and there is an honoring of cancer patients and survivors with glow sticks. “You write in your application who you are fighting for, and names are called out during the event. You are given a glow stick and you hang it on paneling that will spell out ‘this is our fight’ on the wall,” Riede said.
The last day to register for the event is Jan. 23. “Everybody should sign up, it is so much fun and it has a huge benefit,” Riede said.
The McNicholas Milestone 