IT’S TIME TO HELP THE KIDS AGAIN!!
The St. Jude telethon …and the St. Jude runs are around the corner. This year, the St. Jude telethon will be held August 6th. This is my 6th year to be a St.Jude runner and each year it gets more difficult to ask for contributions to the cause. There are so many great organizations out there…and with the economy being what it is..sometimes it is a challenging decision to make. Many times, understanding what St. Jude is all about, helps convince you how valuable your tax-free contributions are.
· St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital opened on February 4, 1962 and was founded by the late entertainer, Danny Thomas. Its mission is to find cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.
· On the average, 5,700 active patients visit the hospital each year, most of whom are treated on an outpatient basis.
· St. Jude is the first institution established for the sole purpose of conducting basic and clinical research and treatment into catastrophic childhood diseases, mainly cancer.
· St. Jude is the ONLY pediatric cancer research center where families NEVER PAY for treatment not covered by insurance. NO CHILD IS EVER DENIED TREATMENT BECAUSE OF THE FAMILY’S INABILITY TO PAY.
· St. Jude has developed protocols that have helped push overall survival rates for childhood cancers from less than 20 percent when the hospital opened in 1962 to 80 percent today!!
St Jude’s ability to do what they do, year after year, for these kids and their families is due to the donations they receive throughout the year.
One large contributor to St. Jude Childrens Research center is the St. Jude Run program. Thanks to Co-founders of the St.Jude Memphis to Peoria run, Mike McCoy and Gene Pratt, this Memphis to Peoria run has become one of the foremost charity running events in the nation. Since its humble beginnings in 1982 the Memphis to Peoria run for St Jude has raised over $11 million for the St. Jude kids!!
Because not everyone can participate in the multi-day Memphis to Peoria run, auxiliary runs were started from communities throughout Illinois and Missouri. These runners have an outlined course through their community, then finish there day by running downtown to meet up with the Memphis to Peoria runners. These satellite runs have raised over $22 million for the kids!
This year will be my 6th year as a St.Jude-Tri-County runner. It is truly the best way I know to “give back” for blessing me with the ability to run and having 3 healthy boys. Over the years I have seen young friends diagnosed with childhood cancer. I have also seen what St. Jude is capable of accomplishing through its research, medical procedures and the care they give to these families in crisis. I know first-hand of families that could not have possibly afforded the care needed if it weren’t for St. Jude.
The “Tri-County” run is a satellite to the Memphis to Peoria run. It entails a 53 mile run that begins at the Red Cross Bldg in downtown Peoria, and will take us through Creve Couer, Bartonville, Pekin, Morton, Washington, Metamora, Germantown Hills and back to Peoria. (If you live in one of the communities, be sure to look for us and give us a wave…or water..haha!!!) The run takes about 12 hours…with the climax being entering the Peoria Civic Center with the Memphis to Peoria runners and all of the other satellite groups. It is THE most moving and emotional moment… I can’t even put into words…I am yet to enter that Civic Center doorway with dry eyes.
Each runner in my satellite group must raise $750 to help fund research & treatment programs. 100% of the funds raised by these runs go to St. Jude. Plus, a contribution to St. Jude is tax deductible.
I would like to ask for your support. Any amount is acceptable and deeply appreciated. Your contributions can be made on line. Simply plug into www.stjudepeoriaruns.org/mmiller to make a donation or make checks payable to: St Jude Runs and send to me @ Marianne Miller 367 Norman Groveland Il 61535…Then get out there on the streets and give us all a “Whoop whoop” on the 6th…I’m sure it will be a hot one ….as always….Thanks from the kids!!
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