2023 fundraising stories
Each year, people around the world take part in fundraisers to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude. Check out a roundup of some of our favorite fundraising stories from 2023!
Radio host Erica Campbell
Urban Cares for St. Jude Kids
March 2023
The year 2023 marked the 16th annual Urban Cares for St. Jude Kids broadcast fundraising event. The two-day radio event brings together numerous broadcast partners and listeners to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The event raised more than $1.5 million for St. Jude kids.
St. Jude 5K Walk/Run
September 2023
Each year, we hold the St. Jude 5K Walk/Run in celebration of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September. The event is a nationwide 5K-hybrid cancer walk/run that takes place both in-person and virtually. Participants come together in teams or individually to raise money to support children receiving treatment at St. Jude and their families.
Danny Lux and St. Jude patient Ashley
Promesa y Esperanza® seminar
October 2023
The Promesa y Esperanza seminar is held each year to help Spanish-format partners prepare for the Promesa y Esperanza broadcasts asking audiences to support St. Jude with monthly donations. The 2023 seminar brought together more than 250 Spanish-language media, celebrities and content creators to learn about the work being done at St. Jude.
2023 Memphis Marathon Weekend
December 2023
As our largest single-day fundraising event, the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend is one of our most anticipated fundraisers. With in-person and virtual races ranging from 5Ks to a full marathon, 2023 participants raised nearly $15 million for the children at St. Jude.
Video game streamer DrLupo
DrLupo’s Build Against Cancer
December 2023
Since 2018, professional gamer, DrLupo — in conjunction with MrsDrLupo and their gaming community — has participated in DrLupo’s Build Against Cancer, a charity livestream event that features Minecraft Challenges, special guests, in-person games and more. This event allows gamers to play video games with some of their favorite creators while supporting the lifesaving mission of St. Jude. Thanks to your support, we were able to surpass our fundraising goal of $1 million.
Facebook Fitness Challenges
Monthly
Each month, St. Jude hosts fitness challenges on Facebook. These challenges are a fun way to get your exercise in and meet new fitness goals while raising money for the kids at St. Jude.
From pushups to squats, crunches and even dog walking challenges, these events allow users to create their own fundraising goals, with 100% of the proceeds going to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Individual fundraising stories
When it comes to fundraising, our amazing community is dedicated to helping the kids at St. Jude. Check out some inspiring stories from individuals.
Illinois girl starts St. Jude fundraiser to help best friend through cancer
When CJ became a patient at St. Jude, her friend Addy wanted to help. So she and CJ created the Cancer Dancer, an annual fundraiser for St. Jude
Salvadoran teen organizes bake sale in Canada and hosts movie premiere to benefit St. Jude
Isabella Ramos-Berdugo, the first international student to become a member of the St. Jude Leadership Society, finds new ways to help raise funds for St. Jude where her childhood friend was treated.
At $70,000 raised and counting, 11-year-old’s swim for St. Jude makes big splash
Each year since he was 5, Sawyer Hansen has collected donations and swims one hour of laps for St. Jude. Now 11, Sawyer has raised more than $70,000 to help the kids of St. Jude.
Why do we fundraise?
Unlike other hospitals, a majority of the funding for St. Jude comes from donations and fundraising efforts from our community of supporters. The money we raise helps us ensure families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live.
Donations help us continue working toward our goal of saving as many lives as possible. Money raised during our fundraisers goes to treatment and cutting-edge research, as well as care for patients and their families.
St. Jude patient Janelle with her family
Your support helps save kids like Janelle
In 2021, 17-month-old Janelle was diagnosed with medulloblastoma — a brain tumor of the cerebellum. Her family came to St. Jude, where she underwent multiple surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation. In June 2023, Janelle was able to return home to Puerto Rico where she’s been reunited with her twin sister.
Write your own fundraising stories
Interested in fundraising for St. Jude? By joining an existing fundraising event or creating your own, you can help us work toward a cure for childhood cancer and give kids around the world the chance to grow up.
St. Jude patient Alanna
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