St. Jude Telethon
This will be the 48th year the St. Jude Telethon has served as the culminating event for Central & Southern Illinois’ year-round fundraising campaigns. The Telethon features the finish line for the St. Jude Runs as well as check presentations from year-round fundraising events. We are eager to welcome VIPs and Sponsors to the Peoria Civic Center as they faithfully support the mission of St. Jude.
St. Jude Walk®
Join us on October 4, 2025 in Bloomington-Normal for our annual St. Jude Walk! Featuring a 1 Mile Walk, 5K, 10K and Half Marathon, the St. Jude Walk is an inspiring, family-friendly event that unites people across the nation behind the life-saving mission of St. Jude.
St. Jude
Harvest Moon
Join us on Friday, October 10, 2025 for the 9th annual St. Jude Harvest Moon! This event includes live entertainment from Patrick n Swayze, auctions, raffles, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and complimentary craft beer and wine at The Warehouse on State. This event includes exposure to 275+ local emerging leaders.
St. Jude
Golf
Interested in participating in a St. Jude golf outing? Contact AREA EMAIL (area-central_southernil_iowa@alsac.stjude.org) for more details!
Tazewell Golf – June 2, 2025
Peoria Golf – June 16, 2025
McLean Golf – September 15, 2025
Jeep Creep for St. Jude
The 6th Annual Jeep Creep for St. Jude, taking place on August 16, 2025, is an annual charity event that raises funds for the mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Your participation in this event isn’t just another Jeep ride. It’s a Jeep ride with purpose that helps St. Jude families.
Cycledelic Endurance Challenge for St. Jude
The 2nd Annual Cycledelic Endurance Challenge for St. Jude, taking place on September 27-28, 2025, is an annual charity event that raises funds for the mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
This off-road cycling event features a 4-mile closed loop course including gravel, grass, dirt, and pavement. Challenge yourself as an individual or with a team to complete as many miles as you can with three options of 6, 12, or 24-hours. Have fun and help us raise funds for the kids of St. Jude.
St. Jude Run, Ride and Drive
St. Jude Runs
August 2, 2025
St. Jude Runs is an annual charity event that raises funds for the mission of St. Jude. You can run for more than a time, a record or a medal – you can run for hope. Since its 1982 inception, St. Jude Runs has raised over $88 million to bring us one step closer to our own finish line: one that ensures that no child should die in the dawn of life.
St. Jude Rides
September 11 – 12, 2025
St. Jude Rides is an annual charity event that raises funds for the mission of St. Jude. In 2007, a group of motorcycle enthusiasts took to the road, traveling 465 miles from Peoria, Illinois to Memphis, Tennessee to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Since this inception, the St. Jude Rides has taken to the road each fall and raised over $11.8 million for the kids of St. Jude.
St. Jude Corvette Drive
May 15-16, 2025
The St. Jude Corvette Drive was founded in 2012 and has raised more than $2.7 million to date. Every year, Corvette drivers and St. Jude supporters depart from Peoria, St. Louis, Louisville and Nashville for the trip to Memphis, where they stay the first night in Dyersburg, Tenn. and then drive through the St. Jude campus the following day.
St. Jude cares for some of the world’s sickest children regardless of their race, ethnicity, beliefs, or ability to pay. Our patients receive the customized care they need to treat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases, no matter what barriers they may face.
St. Jude patient Eri'Elle
St. Jude stories from Central Illinois, Southern Illinois and Iowa
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Illinois girl starts St. Jude fundraiser to help best friend through cancer
Addy and CJ bring their community together for a serious purpose — but don’t take them too seriously.
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Every minute counts: How one CPA shares the St. Jude story with supporters
James Ingold watched a family go from panic to hope in 60 seconds. Now, he asks others to fund St. Jude for just a minute.
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Fueled by a family legacy of giving, Jim Bourazak of Peoria rides on for St. Jude
He knows how much St. Jude helps families because it helped his.
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Supporters of St. Jude Memphis to Peoria Run have raised more than $25 million
For 31 years, Kevin Pautler has run this relay in memory of his son, Dusty, and to fight the cancer that took him away.
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Amy Jones’ journey to the extraordinary ordinary
When her dream of a normal life was derailed, St. Jude was there to save her — twice. Now this grateful leukemia survivor has made her favorite cause her career
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Illinois child survives rare cancer at St. Jude, returns to build garden where hope grows
Years after St. Jude saved his life, Jeremiah Godby returned to campus and saw the need for an outdoor space for spiritual healing. Then he helped make it happen.
Board of Directors
St. Jude Midwest Leadership Board
Chairman of the Board: Rich Unes
Vice Chairman of the Board: Michael D. McCoy
President: John Kocher
Past President: Steve Gardner
Vice President: Jeff Ward
Secretary: Liz Wilson
Treasurer: John McKinty
Board Members
Lupe Alcala • Andrew Black • Kevin Callis • Tim Campbell • Scott Elger • James Fisher • George Ghareeb • Charity Gunn • James Ingold • Michael Joseph • Scott Lewis • Jodi Lindsay • Michael Maloof • Scott Martin • Julie May • Travis Mohlenbrink • Kevin Pautler • Ryan Pierson • Dr. Thomas Rashid • Rick Semonis • Eric Shane • Annette Slyman • Libby Swearingen • Spencer Swearingen • Emily Weeks • Ryan Whitehouse
National ALSAC/St. Jude Board Members
Michael D. McCoy • Rich Unes
ALSAC Leadership Board
Kevin Pautler • Rick Semonis
Contact us directly to get involved and find ways to connect. You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram to stay up-to-date about the exciting events in Central & Southern Illinois and Iowa.
Peoria, Illinois
4722 N. Sheridan Rd.
Peoria, IL 61614
Phone: (309) 566-3500
Facebook - Illinois
Instagram - Illinois
Facebook - Iowa
St. Jude supporters from Central Illinois finish their St. Jude Runs experience on the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® campus in Memphis.
You can support the children of St. Jude in the way that best suits your financial and personal goals.
IRAs, donor-advised funds, stocks, gift annuities, trusts and more — choose the planned giving option that is right for you, and your generosity will help children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Email Rodrigo Leanos or visit the link below for more planned giving options.
Give with purpose by creating opportunities for your organization's team members to donate to St. Jude through their work.
Set up your workplace giving program by establishing employee giving, matching gifts, workplace fundraisers, or giving through federal or state campaigns.
Connect with Jill Libert or click the button below to learn more about your workplace giving options.
Looking for ways to support St. Jude in Chicago and across Northern Illinois? Click below.
Meet St. Jude patients
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Meet Janelle
When Janelle was just over a year old, her family noticed that she began to regress in her development. Medical tests revealed that Janelle had cancer.
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Meet Kamryn
At 2 years old, Kamryn's bloodwork indicated he had a form of blood cancer called acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Doctors referred him to St. Jude where he would undergo more than 2 years of chemotherapy while growing to love activities like Music Therapy.
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Meet patient Natalie
Natalie seemed like a healthy toddler. But one day, she stopped using her left arm. She had Stage IV neuroblastoma and was referred to St. Jude for treatment.
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Meet Brayden
Brayden received chemotherapy as well as proton therapy for medulloblastoma at the first proton therapy center in the world dedicated solely to children.
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Meet Ashtyn
When Ashtyn’s family learned she had a type of cancerous brain tumor called a medulloblastoma, they turned to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.