With oceans and language barriers separating her and Indiana, Rowe reached out to family and friends via email. By the end of the day, she had exceeded her goal and raised more than $200 for IUDM.
Rowe said she never quits when it comes to IUDM.
“It’s just always in the back of my mind,” she said. “I’ll text my director in the middle of night and be like ‘What can I do?’ I’ll get this really weird feeling that I’m not doing enough.”
For her final marathon this year, Rowe contributed $5,396 to IUDM fundraising.
Rowe started fundraising with her committee in February. Like most, Rowe sent out personalized emails, canned down Kirkwood Avenue and posted embarrassing photos on Facebook for donations.
To take it a step further, Rowe has gotten creative with her fundraising strategies. In 2013, 10 of Rowe’s friends agreed to “sponsor” her for every level of Candy Crush she beat. By donating $1 per level unlocked for two months, Rowe’s friends donated a collective $200.
This year, Rowe has decided to become involved with Locks of Love as well. For every $1,000 raised, Rowe will donate one inch of hair to help make hairpieces for cancer patients.
For Rowe and her family, giving back to Riley Hospital is more than charity.
In December 2012, Rowe’s 12-year-old cousin Shane was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Hodgkin’s lymphoma causes the cells in the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system, to grow abnormally, according to Mayo Clinic. This caused Shane to become sick frequently and suffer from visibly swollen lymph nodes.
This news came just one month after Rowe attended her first marathon.
“I knew deep down that there was a reason why I needed to be there,” she said. “It was really inspiring that people just wanted to help.”
After spending eight months in and out of Riley to visit her cousin, Rowe had a new appreciation for the Riley staff and an even stronger passion to give back.
“Personally being affected by it, I took it as (an opportunity) to fundraise as much as I can, really do as much as I can to give back to something that has given back so much to us,” she said.
The following year, Rowe set her fundraising goal to $3,000. She exceeded this and donated $3,500 to Riley.
In June 2013, Shane was pronounced cancer free.
“Just because I have that huge connection to Riley, it’s always been something I’ve been very passionate about,” she said. “Luckily, my cousin is A-OK right now, but there’s obviously so many other families that need to be helped. That place has just made such a difference in my life.”
In 2013, Rowe was nominated for the Ashley Louise Crouse Award. This award is in honor of late Hoosier and IUDM Vice President of Communications Ashley Crouse. The award is given to one person from each committee who embodies the spirit of IUDM.
Shane and his sister also visited the 2013 IUDM. Rowe’s sorority Alpha Xi Delta surprised him with tank tops that read ‘Alpha Xi Delta Dances for Shane.’
“That’s hands down the greatest gift I’ve ever received,” she said. “Just knowing that all those girls were supporting him and wearing his name on their backs as they were enduring those 36 hours, that was really special.”
Rowe’s compassion has led her to pursue work in the medical field.
Rowe is currently majoring in human development and family studies and hopes to work as a child life therapist at Riley Hospital. Currently, Rowe is an intern through the IU Health program partnered with Riley Hospital.
Shane’s journey has inspired Rowe to continue giving back to kids like him.
“Shane will be like, ‘They did a lot for me’ but I’ll be like ‘You inspire all of us,’” she said. “They’re the inspiration behind it all. These kids aren’t supposed to be in hospital beds. They should be enjoying their lives, and instead they’re fighting things that a majority of us have never even witnessed, and I think that’s just amazing.”
