By now all of you know how much the act of running means to me. I have completed 4 Marathons and most recently my first Ultra Marathon earlier this November. This time, I'm choosing to fundraise for a different cause that recently spoke to me. I'm choosing to run for more than myself by becoming a St. Jude's Hero. I'll be participating in the Rock N' Roll San Diego Marathon on June 3rd, 2018. Throughout my training I'll be using the gift of running to help save kids' lives. By fundraising for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital you can join me in hopes of bringing the children and their families the hope running has brought to me. I'm running for kids who might be too sick to run today, but who could one day be running alongside me because the money I raised helped find a cure for childhood cancer. Being able to run these Marathons is a huge personal accomplishment, but getting to provide critical help and support to children suffering through the turmoil of cancer is something greater than any of us.
If you're wondering, "Sure, I donate, but where does it go? Am I really making a difference?" Here's your answer; then I'll let you decide.
- Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food -- because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.
- Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude won't stop until no child dies from cancer.
Infant Care Supplies. These supplies help parents and nurses care for babies in treatment and include items like diapers, baby bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, footies and heel warmers.
One Day of Oxygen. Oxygen is key to keeping the immune system strong. A gift of oxygen can help a young body thrive and help fight cancer at the cellular level.
Parties to celebrate birthdays, holidays and "coming off chemo." St. Jude provides parties, decorations, cakes and more to keep spirits high during the holidays and to celebrate special occasions like birthdays and a child's completion of chemotherapy treatment.
So, while I'm out there sweating, creating more blisters, losing more toe nails, and running countless of miles on end: You can stay comfy in your jammies and still have a part in the fight against cancer. Please consider making a donation to help me reach my fundraising goal! And more importantly, to help a child live.
