Family-friendly event asks participants to give thanks around the holidays by walking for childhood cancer research and treatment
(MEMPHIS, Tenn. — November 4, 2014) — Walkers from more than 65 communities are stepping out November 22 to support kids battling cancer and other life–threatening diseases at this year’s St. Jude Give thanks. Walk.™ benefiting St. Jude.
Since it began, the St. Jude Give thanks. Walk. has raised more than $17 million to help St. Jude provide cutting–edge treatment and pursue visionary research. These funds are critical, given that no family ever receives a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food—because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.
“The annual St. Jude Give thanks. Walk. is a great way for families and friends to join together and kick off their holiday celebrations while helping children fighting cancer and other deadly diseases,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., president and CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “Funds raised from the walk each year help St. Jude pursue the pioneering research and treatments that can help save the lives of children in communities everywhere.”
Actress Elisabeth Röhm is one of several celebrities and St. Jude friends expected to walk alongside participants at a St. Jude Give thanks. Walk. event. Joining Röhm to support St. Jude at the walk in Los Angeles is Max Burkholder from the NBC show “Parenthood” and celebrity fitness and lifestyle coach AJ Johnson.
“My visit to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital opened my heart and was such a deeply moving experience,” said Röhm. “Faith, love and hope are at the epicenter of everything they do. The St. Jude Give thanks. Walk. is at least one way we can all show our love and provide hope to the children and families whose lives are touched by childhood cancer or one of the other deadly and terrible diseases that St. Jude is working tirelessly to defeat.”
In addition to supporting the lifesaving mission of St. Jude, participants receive incentives at the $35, $100 and $250 levels to help make great strides in achieving their fundraising goals. Prizes include a St. Jude Give thanks. Walk. T-shirt, tumbler and tote bag.
Target and American Airlines are National Series Sponsors of the St. Jude Give thanks. Walk., and Gold Level national teams include: Tri Delta Fraternity, New York & Company, Brooks Brothers, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., AutoTrader.com and Chili’s Grill & Bar.
St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life–threatening diseases. The hospital freely shares the breakthroughs it makes, so every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children.
Registration for the St. Jude Give thanks. Walk. is free, except in select markets, as participants are encouraged to form teams and raise funds to help support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude. Visit The St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer to find out market–specific event day information.
About St. Jude:
St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. St. Jude has the world’s best survival rates for the most aggressive childhood cancers, and treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since we opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent in the next decade. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs we make, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org or following St. Jude on Facebook and Twitter.
Media Contact:
Sarah Newman, ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 704-724-5394, sarah.newman@stjude.org.