Like many other people, our decision to participate in the St. Jude Dunlap to Peoria run was motivated by a personal situation.  Our niece, Sam, was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in January of 2014.  She spent nine months at St. Jude in Memphis for treatment and made monthly trips to Memphis for another six months as a participant in a clinical trial.  We are happy to report that her follow-up scans have shown no evidence of disease, and we pray that will continue.

In August of 2015, I was diagnosed with leukemia (AML) and was treated by an amazing team of healthcare professionals at OSF.  I am in remission and am fortunate to be on a bi-annual checkup schedule with my oncologist.

Our family is grateful for the wonderful treatment that Sam and I have received.  We know that it wouldn't have been possible without the research done at St. Jude and the generosity of so many people.  Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since they opened more than 50 years ago.  St. Jude freely shares the discoveries they make which has benefited many adults like me.

Thank you for your support!