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:
-
MRI technologist is inspired throughout career at St. Jude
With a strong support system of women in her life, Mary Jo Freeman has advanced from a hopeful student to a seasoned MRI specialist. Find out about her journey at St. Jude.
-
Dr. Sheila Moore on breaking barriers and giving back
Sheila Moore, MD, began her medical career at a time when men dominated the field. More than five decades later, she reflects on her barrier-breaking career as a pediatric hematologist-oncologist in the South.
-
Do what you put your mind to
Tangie Thomas, VP of Clinical Operations, talks about persistence and motivation in her career.
-
Losing my best friend to cancer led me to a career in science
Research Tech Hailey Skonhovd honors her childhood friend’s memory by pursuing a scientific career.
-
Moving science forward
Inspired by female scientists, Shondra Miller, PhD, is focused on pushing science’s boundaries.
-
A volunteer for life
2017 Volunteer of the Year Award winner Eddie Ramos has devoted countless hours to continuing the lifesaving mission of St. Jude.
-
In this together
Thirteen St. Jude Heroes® are in step with the most compelling reasons — they'll run for St. Jude kids at the 2018 Boston Marathon.
-
St. Jude signs on as Seattle race title sponsor
For the 2018 Seattle Marathon, runners will have even more of a reason to run their hearts out, namely for the kids of St. Jude.
-
Riding for a Reason: From St. Jude Supporter to St. Jude Mom
As cycle instructor Jamie rallied to raise funds for St. Jude, she couldn't know her daughter would soon be a patient at the hospital she had worked so hard to support.
-
Operation Bunny Hop
Jen Clark created a sweet surprise for St. Jude kids — a very special delivery of 550 Easter baskets — to share the springtime hoppy-ness.
-
St. Jude Spirit of the Dream celebrates Dr. King’s legacy
St. Jude Spirit of the Dream celebrated Black History Month, and commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike that brought Dr. King to Memphis.
-
Drumming around the clock
The students from Bel Air High School streamed a 24-hour-straight performance to help give families the gift of more time.
-
Beyond the margins
James' brother, Eddie, helped care for him while he was receiving treatment at St. Jude. Today, Eddie's still involved through International Paper's commitment to the hospital.
-
The story behind the picture
Before the iconic image of a patient and St. Jude founder Danny Thomas made its way into a commercial, it sat in the treasured home of that patient's sister.
-
Strong reason to run
A teen wanted to make running a marathon meaningful and memorable while challenging himself. So he picked a charity he knew would motivate him — St. Jude.
