"I hope someday no kid has cancer."
Eleanor Cook, age 6, St. Jude supporter

Eleanor Cook (center) with Courtney Howard (left), race-car driver Jay Howard, Shaunacee Cook, Gunnar Harbstreit and Zed Harbstreit.
Eleanor Cook of Bloomington, Indiana, loves art, creating pottery, dancing and going camping. She dreams of being an astronaut and one day going to Mars and Jupiter. She is also devoted to supporting the lifesaving mission of St. JudeChildren’s Research Hospital.
Although Eleanor is just 6 years old, she already has helped raise more than $25,000 for St. Jude by donating money she received for her birthday, setting up a lemonade stand and helping to organize a dinner gala that included a performance by a local comedian.
Eleanor’s family and their friends, the Harbstreit family, created Connect 4: For Kids by Kids, an organization to help raise funds for St. Jude. The children of the two families — Eleanor, her sister Shaunacee, 16; Zed Harbstreit, 12, and Gunnar Harbstreit, 9, worked together to organize the Connect 4: For Kids by Kids — A Night to Create a Smile dinner gala in July.
The group is already working on next year’s event.
“I’m really excited about the next St. Jude gala,” Eleanor said. “I want it to be a pirate theme. And I hope someday no kid has cancer.”
Eleanor was drawn to supporting St. Jude by the stories of patients that appear in calendars sent to St. Jude supporters.
Starting when she was only 2 years old, Eleanor would ask her mother to read her the stories because she wanted to hear about the kids being helped at St. Jude.
Now Eleanor wants others to share her commitment to St. Jude and wants others “to donate money to St. Jude to cure kids with cancer and make them happy.”

Eleanor rides her bike through the Connect 4 gala, with Gunnar closely trailing.
You, too, can help give hope to kids who are fighting life-threatening illnesses.
You might also be interested in:
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
St. Jude employees have many reasons to say thanks
In a challenging year, read why St. Jude employees are thankful this holiday season.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
To mark National Hispanic Heritage Month, St. Jude spotlights the stories of some of our talented Hispanic doctors and scientists.
-
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
To mark 2016 National Hispanic Heritage Month, St. Jude spotlights the stories of some of our talented Hispanic doctors and scientists.
-
Preparing for a Pandemic
The staff at St. Jude go above and beyond to ensure patient and employee safety throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Read how St. Jude employees collaborate and innovate during this time.
-
Working like a dog: St. Jude Paws at Play celebrates six months of canine care
Brittany Reed and Shandra Taylor share their thoughts on how Puggle and Huckleberry have made an impact on the hospital and their lives. Read their reflections.
-
Journey to the Jude: Escaping war and poverty in his homeland, chef Johnny Siv develops culinary talents to feed the St. Jude community
After escaping the war-torn nation of his youth, chef Johnny Siv uses food to give back to the patients at St. Jude. Read more about his remarkable journey.
-
Tracing Martine Roussel’s independent streak from Africa to the National Academy of Sciences
Martine Roussel, PhD, is renowned for investigations into molecular-level causes of cancer and strategies in developing new treatments for pediatric brain tumors. Read about her journey.
-
Chaplain Kimberly Russell uses creative talent to adapt spiritual care board for St. Jude patients
Learn how St. Jude chaplain Kimberly Russell helps non-verbal patients communicate spiritual needs.
-
Welcoming all who enter
Janice Ivory has given out tens of thousands of smiles to the patients, staff and families of St. Jude over the last 32 years.