When the cycle instructor of Matt Hazel’s regular lunchtime indoor cycle class at LIFE TIME FITNESS recruited participants last spring for a new charitable initiative, the Ride for a Reason Benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Life Time Foundation, the 55-year-old liked the idea of adding extra motivation to his fitness regimen.
As he learned more about the lifesaving mission of St. Jude, Hazel committed to gaining as many donations as possible before the event, which was then less than six weeks away.
“I'm a big prayer guy, and I started figuring out who I would ask,” Hazel said. “I prayed over the list for people to open up their hearts. And then I bugged the living daylights out of them — called them, texted them, emailed them.”
Hazel found friends, family members and co-workers receptive to his appeals, especially when he explained that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.
“My pitch was, if you knew your $100 could help save someone's life, would you do it?” Hazel said.
Hazel was one of more than 1,600 participants last year in the new partnership between St. Jude and Life Time Foundation, which owns LIFE TIME FITNESS centers in the United States and Canada.
Hazel lives in Chanhassen, Minnesota, where LIFE TIME FITNESS is based, and by the weekend of the event, he had eclipsed his original goal of $10,000 in fundraising. Hazel ended up generating more than $17,000 for St. Jude, which made him one of the top St. Jude Ride for a Reason fundraisers, helping the inaugural event top the $400,000 mark.
The inspiration Hazel drew from thinking about the kids of St. Jude helped him complete four full one-hour cycle sessions during the event.
“That's 72 miles,” Hazel said. “I tracked it.”
This year’s Ride for a Reason Benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Life Time Foundation is set for April 22, and Hazel said he’s looking forward to doing his part again to further the lifesaving mission of St. Jude: Finding cures. Saving children.®
Set your New Year’s fitness resolution with St. Jude in 2017.
You, too, can help give hope to kids who are fighting life-threatening illnesses.
Read more inspiring stories
-
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.
-
Puggle, Huckleberry to depart soon; doggy duo has changed the patient experience
The facility dogs who laid the groundwork for the hospital’s facility dog program are departing soon. Read how they changed the patient experience.
-
Face masks are business as usual at St. Jude
Learn how staff members, patients and families have been wearing masks correctly for decades to protect children and prevent infection.
-
Meet Rosalie: Facility dog to provide employee support
Learn how Rosalie, a golden retriever facility dog, will help support employee resilience. St. Jude has two other facility dogs who support patient care.
-
St. Jude Paws at Play to expand by four paws
Learn how the hospital’s Resilience Center is expanding to welcome a new facility dog dedicated to employees.