The Bob Michel Bridge is a four-lane stretch of road roughly half a mile long spanning the Illinois River in Peoria, Illinois. On August 2, about 3,000 runners converged on that bridge for the final leg of the 34th annual St. Jude Memphis to Peoria Run, an event that transforms Peoria into a fundraising hub for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The runners crossed the bridge and ran through cheering crowds into the Peoria Civic Center to begin an evening-long telethon and fundraising celebration that brought out hundreds of St. Jude supporters in addition to the 120 VIPs who answered the phones. Each VIP committed to raising $1,000 for St. Jude.
This year’s event raised $9.1 million for St. Jude; $4.5 million of that total came from the run itself and the various satellite runs. Over the years, the run has raised more than $40 million for the hospital.
John Kocher, co-chair of the telethon committee with his wife, Dawn, spoke glowingly of Peoria’s widespread passion for St. Jude. Events for St. Jude take place year-round in Peoria and are celebrated at the annual telethon.
"There is a large grassroots effort here for St. Jude and the children impacted with childhood diseases," Kocher said.
The telethon, started 38 years ago by the late Peoria mayor Jim Maloof, also aired St. Jude patient stories. The last hour of the six-hour telethon focused on area teenagers and their success in raising funds and awareness for St. Jude.
"It’s not just fundraising, they are also advocating for St. Jude," Kocher said of the teens. "We’re trying to promote lifetime supporters of St. Judeand the mission to eradicate childhood cancer."
The telethon has grown to include a satellite location in Bloomington, Illinois, where another 60 VIPs took donations over the phone.
Peoria is home to St. Jude’s first affiliate clinic, which opened in 1972. Peoria County Sheriff Michael D. McCoy and Gene Pratt started the St. JudeMemphis to Peoria Run in 1982 to support St. Jude. In addition to the run from Memphis, there were 38 satellite runs from other cities, mostly in Illinois.
You too can make a difference for St. Jude kids.
Read more inspiring stories:
-
Shining a Light on Mucositis
Light therapy, or photobiomodulation therapy, is a painless and potential solution to reduce oral mucositis in children and adolescents who have had bone marrow transplantation.
-
Life after St. Jude: ‘Cured’ Is Only the Beginning
Childhood cancer survivor Katie Chinn Weyer learns to navigate life —and her health — after treatment.
-
Treatment Refinements Offer Global Benefits
Results from clinical trials in Recife, Brazil, and Cairo, Egypt, offer hope to children in low- and middle-income countries worldwide.
-
A Global View of ALL
St. Jude takes steps to improve the outlook for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in China and around the world.
-
Something to Dance About: A Gentler Approach to Transplants
Using a gentler chemotherapy and radiation conditioning regimen, the Sickle Cell Disease Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (SCDHCT) study aims to cure children with severe sickle cell disease and reduce side effects and subsequent health issues.
-
von Hippel-Lindau: Focusing on an Invisible Foe
As a von Hippel-Lindau Clinical Care Center, St. Jude can focus the treatment experience for families affected by the rare genetic disorder.
-
The 2022–27 St. Jude Strategic Plan: Accelerating Progress Globally
Learn how St. Jude can uniquely accelerate progress to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through fundamental science, global impact, and workforce and environment.
-
Meet Eduardo
At 6 months old, Eduardo was referred to St. Jude where he was diagnosed with liver cancer. His treatment included surgery to remove the mass and chemotherapy.
-
High schoolers graduate in a virtual ceremony
Learn how the St. Jude School Program arranged a virtual graduation for high school students this year.
-
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.
-
Yavette Gray: Cancer survivor raises cancer awareness for research and emotional support
During National Black Family Cancer Awareness Week, read Yavette Gray’s story of cancer survivorship.
-
Finding a “brake” for inflammation
Researchers have identified a protein that offers a new focus for developing targeted therapies to tame the severe inflammation associated with multiple sclerosis, colitis and other autoimmune disorders.
-
Evidence grows that sun protection must start early and be a lifelong habit
The Pediatric Cancer Genome Project found that melanoma in some adolescent and adult patients involves many of the same genetic alterations and would likely respond to the same therapy.
-
Measuring response to leukemia treatment may save more lives
Measuring treatment response proves to be a powerful tool for guiding leukemia therapy.
-
Discovery may help reduce cancer drug’s side effects
Researchers have identified the first genetic variation that is associated with increased risk and severity of peripheral neuropathy following treatment with a widely used anti-cancer drug.