First off - if you aren't familiar with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, let me tell you a little bit about it. St Jude was founded just over 50 years ago by Danny Thomas. Located here in Memphis, TN, St. Jude is one of the top hospitals in the world for treating and researching pediatric cancers. Children come from all corners of the earth to be treated here. St. Jude gives hope and a chance at survival to these children and their families. No family is ever turned away. That is why this race and the Heroes are so important to St. Jude.
It takes approximately $1.8 MILLION a day for St. Jude to operate. The St. Jude Memphis Marathon is the single largest fundraiser for the hospital. This past year ~$6 million was raised through the race and the Heroes program. Though that sounds like a large amount, in reality that will only help operate the hospital for just over 3 days!!!
Many of the participants in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend (which includes the Marathon, a Half Marathon, a Marathon Relay, and the Grizzlies House 5K) sign up to be a St. Jude Hero. The Heroes sign up to not only run the race, but to also be fundraisers for St. Jude. I have been a Hero twice before - for my first ever Half Marathon in 2011 and my first Marathon in 2012. When I registered for the Marathon this year, there was no questioning if I would be a Hero or not.......to me, that is part of participating in the race.
If you are considering supporting St. Jude this year, I would ask you to consider donating through my fundraising website. I will also have a button to the side during this time where you can access the website.
Please join me in helping these children and families through their race - one to cure childhood cancer.
~Kathryn
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