Gold is a school color for Memorial Park Elementary School in Jasper, Alabama, and that made “going gold” for the kids of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month a natural fit.
The school took the month’s awareness campaign as an opportunity to have a special fundraiser for St. Jude. For one week, Memorial Park’s 580 kindergarten through fifth-grade students could dress up to a specific theme for $1 a day starting with the popular “pajamas on Monday,” said fourth-grade teacher and student council co-advisor Meghan Fincher. The pajama day was dubbed “Dreaming for a Cure Day.”
Students also could dress as they saw themselves as adults for “Surviving into the future” Tuesday; as a rock star for “Survivors Rock” Wednesday; and as their favorite superhero for Thursday’s “Superheroes of Hope.”

Students at Memorial Park Elementary in Jasper, Alabama, paid $1 a day to dress up in fun outfits fitting a theme for that particular day.
Students ended the week with “Go Gold” Friday, where they creatively dressed in gold to help raise childhood cancer awareness, Fincher said. The five-day event raised more than $2,400.
Fincher said that teachers and students were inspired by a classmate diagnosed with kidney cancer who missed much of last year for treatment. Though not treated at St. Jude, the young girl is now in remission, enjoying her favorite activities and serving on the student council, said Fincher.
Giving back and thinking of others is a core tenant of instruction at Memorial Park Elementary, and Fincher, whose family has been a long-time supporter of St. Jude, suggested the campaign to support St. Jude. Though she’s never had a family member seek treatment there, she does have two young children of her own, so the mission hits close to home.
“When you see those parents and hear their stories ... If it doesn’t tug at your heart, then nothing will," said Fincher.
You, too, can help give hope to kids who are fighting life-threatening illnesses.
Read more inspiring stories
-
Journey to the Jude: Lyudmila Tsurkan, PhD, Hematology, Kazakhstan
St. Jude lead researcher Lyudmila Tsurkan of Hematology smiles when recalling her childhood in the central Asian nation of Kazakhstan.
-
Journey to the Jude: Augustine Ntah, Security, Cameroon
Ntah said his welcoming personality stems from his heritage, of which he is immensely proud. He thinks of St. Jude as an extension of his homeland, the central African country of Cameroon.
-
Journey to the Jude: Besian Sejdiu, Structural Biology, Kosovo
Sejdiu is proud to serve an organization that is a locally, nationally and internationally respected driving force in research, pediatrics and employee recruitment.
-
Veteran mechanic reflects on fatherhood, St. Jude experiences
Former U.S. Army diesel mechanic Dennis Hart has served four years as a maintenance mechanic at St. Jude and says he loves working here because of the positive atmosphere.
-
St. Jude kindergarteners celebrate resilience and recess at 2023 graduation
In the 15th year of kindergarten graduations, St. Jude Imagine Academy by Chili’s kindergarteners were honored as part of a virtual ceremony.
-
St. Jude high school seniors graduate with ambition and gratitude
In the 17th year of high school graduations at St. Jude, St. Jude Imagine Academy by Chili’s honored this year’s graduates during the annual high school commencement.
-
Journey to the Jude: Hamda Khan, Hematology, Pakistan
As a medical anthropologist, Hamda Khan studies various social determinants that contribute to the health of patients with chronic illnesses. Learn more about her journey to St. Jude.
-
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.