It all started with
ONE CRAZY IDEA.
St. Jude Runs, a charity event for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, is bringing hope to families worldwide.
On February 4th, 1962, entertainer Danny Thomas’s crazy dream that “no child should die in the dawn of life” became a real possibility with the opening of St. Jude Children’s Research hospital in Memphis, TN.
“There it is, in concrete, glass and steel. To offer help to all the children of the world, regardless of race, creed or economic status.” To this day, his life’s work remains the largest influence on defeating childhood disease in the world through research and treatment.
DID YOU KNOW? St. Jude was the first integrated children’s hospital in the South.
Well, one crazy idea usually begets another.
Twenty years later in 1982, co-founder Mike McCoy collaborated on a way to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital - a favorite charity. What came about is known today as the St. Jude Runs, now in it’s 40th year.
DID YOU KNOW? St. Jude funds families so they never receive a bill for
medicine, surgery, travel, housing or food during their treatment.
The first original run began with Mike and a handful of brave runners. They drove down to Memphis, TN., the home of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. From there they made the grueling 465-mile journey back to Peoria, IL., home of the Peoria civic legend Jim Maloof, over the course of four days in the sweltering heat. That run initiated the first donations made from St. Jude Runs to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
This Memphis to Peoria route, now famously known as "the main run", is still going strong today, where participants must raise a minimum of $3,000 to be eligible for the route. As the main run evolved, new ones began to grow, and today there are dozens of satellite runs.
DID YOU KNOW? Treatments invented at St. Jude has helped push the overall
childhood cancer survival rate from 20% in 1962 to more than 80% today.
Now, many Runs later, the crazy dream has become one of the foremost charity running events in the nation, having raised over $66 MILLION dollars since its inception and counting! Runners of all ages and skill levels step side-by-side to join the fight every year.
DID YOU KNOW? More than 75% of St Jude's operating costs
comes from generous donors, just like you.
Through Mike's work and the thousands of participants that followed in his footsteps, St. Jude Runs continues to be a stronghold in the fight against childhood illness. We’re truly honored to be able to partner with them again this year as hope still shines bright and colorful, until childhood disease is defeated.
As an official partner of St. Jude, 50% of every purchase from our St. Jude Runs Collection goes to St. Jude Runs. We're committed to helping fight until the race is finished.
You can join in the run, too, no matter your skill level! Go to St. Jude Runs website to learn about satellite runs in your area and how to participate.
To learn more on how you can donate or help sponsor a runner, go to St. Jude Runs official website .
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