The 6,000 people who live in Chillicothe, Illinois, are a powerhouse when it comes to raising funds and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, raising more than $1.55 million for St. Jude since 2005.
The small community has felt the impact of childhood cancer over the past 30 years, with nine children having been diagnosed with cancer. Knowing what families in their community faced inspired residents to support the hospital through St. Jude Runs, which organizes the annual St. JudeMemphis to Peoria Run fundraiser. They started the Chillicothe to Peoria Run, one of 38 satellite runs, in 2005.
In each of the last two years, the community has raised more than $320,000 through the run and a variety of other fundraising activities, including the Brad Wallin Memorial Baseball Tournament. This year they have a goal of raising more than $345,000 for St. Jude.
Chillicothe Telethon participants reveal how much they've raised in 2015.
“Chillicothe has had this constant churn of kids with cancer,” said Rick Lingenfelter, Chillicothe’s run coordinator. “Just when you think that maybe it is going to wane, another child has gotten cancer. So it’s not like we can say we raised the funds; we did it; we’re done. It keeps coming up. That’s a motivator.”
The group, which started with 11 runners, has fielded 120 runners each of the last two years. In addition to seeking pledges from family and friends for the run, they host numerous fundraisers, such as an American Girl® Tea Party™, a dueling-pianos night and a 1980s-themed adult prom. The annual youth baseball tournament, started by a St. Jude patient family, drew 261 teams from all over the Midwest in 2015.
“I would love to know in our population of 6,000 people, how many of the adult wage-earners donate to St. Jude, because I have a feeling it is a lot of people,” Lingenfelter said.
The lifesaving mission of St. Jude has resonated in Chillicothe, and its residents know 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.
“Everyone knows about, and is very clear of, the mission of St. Jude because they see it lived out here every day.”
You, too, can help give hope to kids who are fighting life-threatening illnesses.
Read more inspiring stories:
-
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.
-
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.