Students and their friends and families formed teams to raise funds for the Maria Fareri Children's Hospital and Happiness is Camping, a camp for kids with cancer. Prior to the event, teams set fundraising goals and organized pre-SAA fundraisers to help reach their goal. On the day of the event, each team set up its "camp ground" in the High School Dome, complete with themed decorations, lawn chairs, pillows, blankets, and tents of all shapes and sizes. Food and drinks were available for sale and fun activities could also be enjoyed for a fee. Throughout the night, both campers and members of the community (who paid an entrance fee) visited each "campsite" and purchased goodies or participated in fun activities. A repeat from prior SAAs was a band led by Mr. Frank, Hen Hud's elementary band teacher, entertaining the crowd with current and classic favorites.

Opening ceremonies were held in the High School gymnasium, kicking off with a ceremonial lap around the gym by participating cancer survivors, followed by campers and community members. Special guest Andrew Jenks, award-winning filmmaker and Hen Hud alum, presented a touching clip from his MTV series, World of Jenks, about Kaylin, a young woman battling cancer. Perhaps the most moving portions of the ceremony were provided by seventh- grader Joshua Anderson, the youngest cancer survivor in attendance, whose speech brought many in the audience to tears, and by Katy Kenny, who performed an emotional rendition of "The Climb."

At 10 p.m., attendees moved on to the auditorium, where candles were lit in memory of those lost. Following that, a luminaria ceremony was held, with candles placed in paper bags bearing the names of both survivors and those lost to cancer scattered throughout the first floor hallways of the high school. Everyone walked the halls in absolute silence as the sheer magnitude of those affected was obvious in the endless stream of luminaries lining the walls.

"Cancer has touched all of us in one way or another and that is why this event is so significant," said High School Principal James Mackin. "It is a way for our community and especially our students to give back, heal and support those that are dealing with this disease at all different stages.  I could not be more proud of the Hendrick Hudson Leos organization for their efforts."

The Hen Hud Leos sum up the spirit of the evening on their website, saying, "Throughout the evening and into the next day, everyone enjoys entertainment, fun, and camaraderie. Long before the evening ends, new friends have been made, old friends have been hugged and all hearts have been touched by the magic created through the Stay-Awake-A-Thon." This year's event raised a net of about $20,000.

The Hen Hud Leos Club, chartered by the Lions Club, the world's largest service club organization, serves the Hendrick Hudson community. Currently run by Hen Hud students, the Leos are open to any student in the community.