St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital simply started as a plea for help.  Danny Thomas, a down on his luck actor prayed to St. Jude Thaddeus to “Help me find a way in life, and I will build a shrine dedicated to caring for the hopeless, the helpless and the poor.”  His prayer was answered and thus rejuvenated Danny’s acting career and landed him in the spotlight of America.  However, Danny did not forget his promise to St. Jude and in 1962 opened the doors of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  His goal was an ambitious one, “No Child should die in the dawn of life,” was his will, and now for 50 years, even with Danny’s passing, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is continuing to provide for children with the most devastating types of childhood cancers and diseases.  Today, St. Jude is the tip of the spear in fighting and curing childhood cancer. Among all the accolades, awards and honors it receives, none is more prominent than this simple fact:

In 1962 the common form of childhood cancer; acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survival rate was a mere 4%.  Today, the survival rate for this once deadly disease is 94% thanks to research and protocols developed at St. Jude.  (Please click here for other facts and figures)

Powerful results, especially for a hospital that does not charge anything over what the patients insurance does not cover.  St. Jude treats all children, regardless of their economic means.  Parents are asked to pay nothing more than what their insurance provides and if they do not possess insurance or it is not covered, they are not charged.  Transportation, meals, lodging is also covered by the hospital in order to provide top of the line care for children facing the biggest battle of their lives.

This is why, in 1982, Mike McCoy and Gene Pratt started a fundraiser that in 30 years has risen over $25,000,000 to support St. Jude.

St. Jude Run History

It takes $1.3 million dollars daily to operate St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  Mike McCoy and Gene Pratt, co-founders of the St. Jude Memphis to Peoria Run, envisioned an event so unique and different that it would bring people from all walks of life together to raise money for St. Jude.  That mission was accomplished with the first St. Jude Memphis to Peoria run 30 years ago in 1982.  A group of about 20 runners made their way from the steps of St. Jude in Memphis, TN to Peoria, IL, a 464 mile trek raising $22,500.

This relay style event has grown astronomically over the past 30 years.  We now have 30 auxiliary Runs that take place on the first weekend in August (In 2012, It is July 20^th because of Olympic coverage conflict.) These dedicated St. Jude Runners from Cities throughout Illinois, St. Louis, MO and Hannibal, MO lace up their shoes and run in the heat of the day and dark of night to join forces in an effort to find a cure for childhood disease and raise awareness for St. Jude.  Over 1,750 runners converge into Peoria, IL to kickoff the annual St. Jude Telethon at the Peoria Civic Center. Family, friends, and supporters line the streets outside the civic center to cheer the runners who relentlessly given their time, energy, and passion for this cause.

Quincy St. Jude Run History

2005 was the inaugural year for the Quincy St. Jude Run.  Randy Meehan, being involved with the Macomb, IL St. Jude Run recruited the help of his brother Rick, to start a Run from their hometown of Quincy.  That first year, a group of about 12 runners began what now has risen over $385,000 for St. Jude.  Today, over 70 runners, volunteers, and supporters work tirelessly trying to grown the Quincy St. Jude Run into one of the top Auxiliary Runs of the St. Jude Run Association.   Below is a yearly breakdown on the amounts raised over the years in Quincy:

2005:     $11,000.00

2006:     $28,500.00

2007:     $50,200.00

2008:     $62,000.00

2009:     $54,000.00

2010:     $72,000.00

2011:     $85,000.00