As we prepare for Thanksgiving and look ahead to the holiday season, I'm reminded of the many blessings in my life. Among the greatest of these are amazingly caring people like you who do so much to support the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Because you care, children, like Gunnar, are receiving vital treatment at St. Jude. When he was just 8 months old, Gunnar was diagnosed with the soft tissue cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. His treatment plan includes chemotherapy and proton therapy at St. Jude, where we have the St. Jude Red Frog Events Proton Therapy Center, the world’s first proton therapy center dedicated solely to children.
And thanks to your generosity, families, like Gunnar’s, never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food. At St. Jude, we believe all a family should worry about is helping their child live.
During this holiday season, one way you can give thanks is through the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign, which unites more than 70 major brands in fundraising for our mission: Finding cures. Saving children.® This campaign, which continues through the month of December, offers many opportunities to support the kids of St. Jude, including donations at the register and special items for purchase all to provide the funds that help us care for St. Jude patients and their families. I'm personally so grateful to all of the partners who participate in this campaign and to the shoppers who have embraced this time of year to give back by supporting St. Jude.
I'm also incredibly moved by the number of you who will take part in our largest one-day fundraising event on December 3 — the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend. It's an amazing sight — and means so much to our St. Jude families — when more than 20,000 of you take to the streets of Memphis and run through the St. Jude campus, proudly wearing your St. Jude Hero shirts as you make each mile count for the kids of St. Jude.
I'm so honored each year to meet these St. Jude Heroes who willingly give their time to raise funds, train and run to help children who are bravely fighting for their lives.
By supporting the mission of St. Jude, each and every one of you truly become part of the St. Jude family. I thank you for your incredible generosity and wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving and a blessed holiday season.
You, too, can make a difference for St. Jude kids.
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High schoolers graduate in a virtual ceremony
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A virtual celebration: Kindergarteners graduate after a year of big changes
After the pandemic cancelled last year’s event, see how the St. Jude School Program coordinated a virtual kindergarten graduation this year.
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Yavette Gray: Cancer survivor raises cancer awareness for research and emotional support
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Surgeon’s path of communal goodwill leads to global impact
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Out of this world: Physician assistant takes her St. Jude perspective to space
Physician assistant Hayley Arceneaux is a childhood cancer survivor at the hospital that saved her life. Now she’s on her way to space. Read her story.
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Doctors’ Day: St. Jude physicians share common goals
Read how St. Jude physicians are able to provide the best care for their patients.
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“The Chief” Allan Granoff, PhD, a pioneer of translational pediatric research at St. Jude
St. Jude remembers Allan Granoff, a founding father of the pediatric research hospital.
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Journey to the Jude: Heather Brandt, PhD, works to steer HPV vaccination rates in right direction
Heather Brandt, PhD, joined the hospital last summer to lead the hospital’s new HPV Cancer Prevention Program. Learn how her career’s work will help guide this important initiative.
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St. Jude honors physicians who were key to hospital’s pandemic response
For the first time in St. Jude history, there are two recipients of the annual Amos Jacobs Award—the highest honor given to hospital employees. Read more about their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Happy Paw-li-days: Elvis the Elf helps Puggle and Huckleberry celebrate the season
Elvis the Elf keeps a watchful eye on the holiday adventures of hospital dogs Puggle and Huckleberry.
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A sequence of festive events: ‘Gene Gnome’ delivers holiday hijinks to St. Jude
See how Gene Gnome is bringing some holiday fun to the research community at St. Jude.
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St. Jude employees have many reasons to say thanks
In a challenging year, read why St. Jude employees are thankful this holiday season.
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St. Jude resource group supports efforts of veterans, active duty personnel and families
Veterans are an important part of the workforce at St. Jude. Learn how the hospital’s Military Support Resource Group helps employee veterans and active duty personnel.
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Molecular oncologist Martine F. Roussel, Ph.D., featured in new portrait unveiled at St. Jude
Martine Roussel, Ph.D., is first female researcher at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to receive a commissioned portrait. Read more about her accomplishments.
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Adoption advocate: Employee shares how St. Jude benefit helped grow her family
Racquel Collins always knew she wanted to adopt. Learn how a hospital benefit eased the process of welcoming her son, Wes, to her family.