Hello! St. Jude Runs is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and I'm excited to be part of it! July 17th will be my 7th Run Day with St. Jude, and every year I learn more... more about how to train, how to run, how to recover, but mostly, I learn more about the life-saving work that happens at St. Jude every single day.
Each year, we have a St. Jude patient or parent come speak to our group before we kick off Run Day. The parents always talk. Sometimes the kids do, if they're old enough. Sometimes the parents come to talk about a child they've lost. I wouldn't have expected it, but even in those worst-case scenarios, there is hope. No, every child does not receive a miracle cure at St. Jude. But every child there does receive the best possible chance at life. State-of-the-art treatment backed by world-class research is the standard at St. Jude. Even when the worst happens and a child doesn't survive, parents know that the search for a cure continues. Many continue to support St. Jude because they know St. Jude continues to support families like theirs.
Last year, COVID-19 stopped just about everything in its tracks, but it didn't stop St. Jude from fighting for kids' lives. It didn't stop our teams from running. And it didn't stop childhood cancer. In the midst of so much wrong in 2020, some families faced a cancer diagnosis on top of everything else. Even in a pandemic, St. Jude still provided transportation, housing, food, and treatment to their families at no cost. I'm proud to be part of supporting their work.
I run in memory of Nathan. I run in honor of Reed. I run for every kiddo past, present, and future who needs the hope, healing, and research that St. Jude provides. If you'd like to join me in helping St. Jude help families facing cancer, you can donate online on my personal page or by mailing me a check made out to St. Jude Runs. Whether or not you are able to donate monetarily, please hold the kids and families of St. Jude in your thoughts and prayers. It is for them that we run.
Thanks so much!
Helen Potts
