General registration for St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend presented by Juice Plus+® opens today, June 1, at stjude.org/marathon.
The fitness event on Saturday, Dec. 3, supports the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®: Finding cures. Saving children.® Runners, supporters and, new for 2022, volunteer fundraisers will sprint toward a fundraising goal of $14 million to benefit St. Jude kids. Last year’s event raised a record $12.5 million. Because of events like this, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food so they can focus on helping their child live.
St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, the largest single-day fundraiser for St. Jude, features a marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K and Kids Marathon. Participants can run in-person or virtually. Since its inception in 2002, this signature event has united thousands of participants and volunteers, many of whom register as St. Jude Heroes® who fundraise while training for a life-changing experience as they run alongside patient families. The event attracts participants annually from Memphis and around the world, not only helping St. Jude but helping the city by seeing millions of dollars in economic impact yearly.
New this year: Dedicated volunteer and cheer station groups will have the option to fundraise while providing vital support for the event. More than 4,000 volunteers are needed to make this event happen each year, from handing out registration packets at the Health & Fitness Expo and helping runners navigate to the start to greeting runners with medals at the finish line. Volunteer groups are welcome. Volunteer registration will be available soon at stjude.org/marathon.
“This year, like the past 20 years, we hope to see a record number of volunteers, runners and supporters descend on Downtown Memphis, celebrate our great home city, enjoy local businesses, celebrate the 60thanniversary of St. Jude, and raise funds for the lifesaving mission of St. Jude,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., president and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “Whether you are finishing in the top 10, walking the 5K with your family or one of thousands of dedicated volunteers who are the backbone of this event, we all share the same purpose -- to positively impact the lives of others. Together, we can make this another record-breaking year.”
Because of events like this, St. Jude can advance its six-year, now $12.9 billion strategic plan that includes tripling its global investment to help more of the 400,000 kids around the world with cancer each year.
The Quarter Million Dollar Club (QMDC) challenge is back for 2022 with each team set to rally supporters to help them reach $250,000 in donations. Top QMDC 2021 fundraising team and St. Jude corporate partner Shaw Industries will be back in Memphis to cross the finish line with another monumental year of fundraising benefiting St. Jude families.
Cory Lowery was not a runner when he found out his friend and co-worker’s child was diagnosed with cancer. That news made an impact. This year marks the eighth year Lowery – now a dedicated St. Jude Hero – will run through campus during St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend as part of his corporate team, Hyosung HICO, a St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend sponsor. Often referred to as the most impactful part of the weekend, the course takes runners through the St. Jude campus where there are cheering St. Jude families, providing a much-needed boost of courage to the runners who are there to support them.
To participate, volunteer, fundraise with the thousands of others who support St. Jude, register for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend at stjude.org/marathon.
About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since the hospital opened in 1962. St. Jude won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.