The 12th Battle of the Cents-es fundraiser will benefit Aaron Erickson, a Moorhead High School student with a rare heart defect.
The annual competition between NDSU student ambassadors from the College of Health Professions and College of Engineering runs from March 27 to March 31.
Donations will be accepted via coins, bills and Venmo.
Donation sites:
Aldevron Tower, Engineering Complex and Memorial Union.
In-person donation times:
- Monday through Thursday, March 27-30
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Friday, March 31
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Coins and Venmo donations will be counted as positive points toward each college’s total. Dollar bills will act as negative points that will be subtracted from each college’s total.
“We try to pick a recipient that is in need in our NDSU or Fargo-Moorhead community,” said Alyssa Hodges, an NDSU pharmacy student and special events chair of the College of Health Professions Ambassadors. “Battle of the Cents-es raises money for the recipient to use however they may need. This could be for housing, travel, gas, food or medical bills. We want them to feel supported and do the best we can to provide that through a monetary donation after Battle of the Cents-es is completed. In addition, we provide a very fun kick-off event at the beginning of the week where we recognize the family and their emotional and financial hardship, as well as let them speak to us about what challenges they have faced throughout their journey.”
Erickson was born with a rare heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). The left side of his heart was underdeveloped, causing the pumping chamber to ineffectively pump blood to the body. Last year, on November 7, 2022, Erickson received a donor heart transplant. The funds collected from Battle of the Cents-es will go toward his continued care, including medications and additional heart procedures. His mother, Holly Erickson, previously worked in the College of Engineering as the K-12 outreach coordinator.