‘Kids can’t wait’: Aggies push to support Primary Children’s Hospital in annual Aggiethon event
Nov.13, Aggies gathered together to help fundraise for Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital in the fourth annual Aggiethon.
After lots of dancing, bubble soccer, nine-square and fundraising, Utah State University raised more than $20,000 for the children’s hospital in just under 6 hours.
Jenna and Kyson Stoker began Aggiethon after seeing an opportunity to help out the hospital that had already done so much for their family.
“I got involved as the USUSA service VP in 2018,” Jenna Stoker said. “There was an opportunity to start the program at Utah State so I gathered a team of awesome people and we started the program.”
USUSA is the Utah State University Student Association, a department of USU Student Involvement. Stoker was the Service Vice President in the USUSA Executive Council.
Stoker said Aggiethon means the world to her and she loves the opportunity to be able to help others.
“It’s important to me because I know there are so many kids out there with illness and injury that need my support and love. And I think it is pretty neat that I can be part of this generation fighting for the next,” she said. “I have three nieces treated regularly at the hospital and have seen the amazing good Primary Children’s does for these kids.”
These funds are able to help support children like the Stoker’s nieces.
While a blood pressure cuff or a pack of diapers for a premature baby might only cost $3 or $12, respectively, more specialized products and treatments like a bone marrow transplant, a ventilator or a crash cart — a cart with supplies and tools needed for life-saving measures such as resuscitation for cardiac arrest — cost $2,500, $5,000 and $35,000, respectively.
“We are able to provide a network fighting for these kids as they battle pediatric illness and injury,” Stoker said. “The funds we raise as students go towards things like charitable care, equipment, research, education and patient services. These all help kids feel OK and happy in the hospital, which is huge.”
This year, almost 250 people signed up to help with the Aggiethon but Aggiethon executive team members, like Gentry Mower, would love to see more participation in the future.
“Most people know someone who has received treatment at the children’s hospital,” Mower said. “The more involvement we get, the more money we can raise to help families in need. The celebration is a great part of Aggiethon, but the impact we can make for these families is greater.”
Mower recognizes how blessed she is to be in good health and understands many kids don’t have the same opportunities as her.
“I think Aggiethon is a way to relieve families of burdens that they haven’t chosen at a time when they are limited by their adversity,” Mower said.
When asked about participation from USU, Stoker said, “It’s important for Aggies to get involved because this is our chance to get involved in something bigger than us. We have the chance to step outside ourselves and have a lot of fun while doing it.”
Stoker emphasized every dollar counts and quite literally saves lives.
While this year’s Aggiethon may be over, Primary Children’s offers plentiful volunteer options for Utahns and Aggies hoping to serve these kids in need.
These volunteer opportunities include working at the information desk, in the emergency department, being a part of the kids crew, being with the children’s outpatient rehabilitation services team or helping with pet therapy.
Applications for these volunteer positions can be found on Intermountain Healthcare’s website.
-Michael.Popa@usu.edu