“Sometimes we almost don’t know if we’re running the right race, working with the right charity, raising money for the right cause, but this cause feels pretty awesome,” said St. Jude Hero Nikitas ‘Nik’ Tsoukalis.
For Nik, the “right cause” is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the right race is the famous Boston Marathon, which he ran in April as a St. Jude Hero for the second year in a row. He and a friend raised $20,000 as St. Jude Heroes to help ensure that 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.
This year there were 10 St. Jude Heroes running in the Boston race, twice as many than in any other year, and together they raised more than $150,000. The runners also became close as they trained for the race. “We would get together every Saturday to do our long runs,” said Nik, “and we became like a family.”
Sometimes we almost don’t know if we’re running the right race, working with the right charity, raising money for the right cause, but this cause feels pretty awesome.
It was the story of St. Jude founder Danny Thomas that spoke to the 34-year-old entrepreneur and father of two, drawing him to the mission of St. Jude and inspiring him to run. “The spiritual side of things really struck a nerve with me,” Nik said. “I’m an Orthodox Greek and Danny Thomas, in his worst moment as an entertainer, got down on his knees and prayed to a saint, which I’ve actually had to do that in my life quite a few times. I really connected with his story, I just thought it was so pure and beautiful.”
On race day, using Facebook Live, he stayed in touch with his donors, walking them through the day from waking up that morning to having coffee, from starting the race to crossing the iconic yellow and blue finish line. When his Fitbit battery died halfway through, he lost the ability to track his time and chucked the device into the woods. It was a moment of perspective and he made the second half of the race about the St. Jude mission, about reaching out to his donors via social media and stopping to greet spectators along the route. “I ran about the same time as last year, but I had a blast doing it and I feel like I raised a lot more awareness for St. Jude as a result. So it was a real success. I felt very blessed to be a part of the whole thing.”
You, too, can help give hope to kids who are fighting life-threatening illnesses.
-
Mother admires daughter’s journey from St. Jude patient to employee
Mother and daughter bond over their time from patient family to employees at St. Jude.
-
Mother and daughter nurses continue to flourish at St. Jude
Mother and daughter nurses continue to flourish at St. Jude
-
Pawt of the family: New facility dog repawts for duty at St. Jude
Read about Rose, the newest member of the Paws at Play program at St. Jude.
-
Plan in Progress: St. Jude celebrates first year of telehealth services in Tupelo
St. Jude is celebrating a successful first year of providing telehealth services for children with chronic hematological diseases in North Mississippi. Read the story.
-
Doggone cute: St. Jude is paw-leased to welcome employees Snuggle and CC
Read about Snuggle and CC, the two newest facility dogs who are enhancing the patient experience at St. Jude.
-
Being A Father is Everything for St. Jude Patient Dad Chris
When Chris' son Calvin got a devastating diagnosis, it was the lifesaving mission of St. Jude that helped ensure his family remained intact.
-
A St. Jude volunteer “meet cute” leads to engagement
Jordan Watson and Kelly Quiroz met at St. Jude while volunteering and recently got engaged to marry.
-
Father’s Day: St. Jude employees share stories of inspiration
To commemorate Father's Day, read four stories of four St. Jude employees who have the unique experience of calling their fathers colleagues.
-
St. Jude kindergarten graduation celebrates aspiring teachers, ballerinas…ninjas
Students in the St. Jude School Program hit a milestone by celebrating their Kindergarten graduation.
-
‘A success on all fronts’
Read how St. Jude volunteers opened the door to health care career possibilities for local eighth graders during an expo at Agricenter International.
-
St. Jude School Program celebrates annual high school commencement
See how St. Jude is honoring 15 students as part of its annual high school commencement. The students completed high school this year while undergoing treatment and managing the ongoing pandemic. Each graduate received a unique St. Jude class ring, hats tassels and other gifts.
-
St. Jude celebrates Mother’s Day with inspirational stories
St. Jude employees take pride in their work and many times, they inspire family members to join the mission. This Mother’s Day, we highlight a few family members who have followed in their mothers’ footsteps.
-
Mentorship is a Two-Way Street
In observance of Women's History Month, Andrea Stubbs discusses the importance of mentorship and support throughout her career.
-
Austin Springer, PhD, receives highest employee honor for pandemic response efforts
For pandemic response efforts in 2021, Human Resources employee receives highest honor bestowed upon St. Jude employees.
-
Why did I get the COVID-19 vaccine? Two St. Jude families share their stories
Two St. Jude families share their reasons for getting the COVID-19 vaccine.