Devotion. It’s what drives this St. Jude volunteer across South Dakota and beyond
July 06, 2021 • 2 min
HURON, South Dakota — There may be no limit to the lengths Henry Hanten would go to help the kids of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. But we know the number is north of 50,000 miles. That’s how far he’s traveled while volunteering at Country Cares for St. Jude Kids® Radiothons over the last 30 years.
“It is over 50,000, they say. I’ve got 92 radiothons in. I need eight to make 100,” Hanten said. “Snowstorms, rain. You name it, I’ve been through it.”
As the lead volunteer coordinator for several radiothons spread throughout the Upper Midwest, this South Dakota resident has traveled some 2,500 miles many a year to raise money and awareness for a cause that’s close to his heart.
“When I was 19 years old, St. Jude saved my life,” said Hanten, who was treated for cancer as a teenager by a Minnesota hospital using protocol from St. Jude, which freely shares its research so other institutions can benefit from its treatments and discoveries. “That’s when I started researching St. Jude, to see what it was all about, and got involved.”
He’s remained committed to the St. Jude cause, despite the challenges of the last couple of years — a fire that burned down his house, followed weeks later by the death of his wife, Sandy, in late 2019, followed by the pandemic of 2020 and beyond.
“I am devoted to finding a cure so no child needs to die from cancer,” said Hanten, who led a virtual cheer group for Minneapolis-St. Paul’s K102 when an in-person radiothon appearance wasn’t possible because of COVID-19.
He also helps at St. Jude Walk/Runs, galas, fishing tournaments and other fundraisers — no surprise he’s a St. Jude Volunteer of the Year award winner, in 2012 — but his favorite volunteer gigs are radiothons, for which he trains other volunteers and also pitches in answering phones.
Come radiothon season, Hanten gasses up his baby-blue truck and goes — to Rapid City, South Dakota, and to Minneapolis, Duluth and Mankato, Minnesota.
“I plan on doing it until my body won’t let me do it anymore,” he said.
