St. Jude patient Owen was a special guest of the National Football League (NFL) when he announced the Seattle Seahawks' round two draft pick onstage April 26 in Nashville, Tennessee. Former NFL MVP running back Shaun Alexander joined Owen onstage to raise awareness of the St. Jude mission: Finding cures. Saving children.®
Owen was diagnosed at 4 years old with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a type of blood cancer. He spent two-and-a-half years battling ALL, but while completing treatment, he discovered a passion for running. After treatment, he found he also loved football. Now 13, Owen is cancer-free and can run a 5:36 mile. He's a proud Seattle Seahawks fan, which he attributes to the influence of an uncle who resides in Seattle.
Before traveling to Nashville, Owen said: "I’m so excited to attend the NFL draft and can’t wait to get to Nashville to make the pick for my favorite team, the Seattle Seahawks. It will be an amazing experience to be part of the draft, so I'm thankful for both St. Jude and the NFL for giving me this incredible opportunity." Read more about Owen's St. Jude journey.
This will be a fun and memorable event for Owen, but it is only possible because of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. We are eternally grateful for the care and treatment Owen received at St. Jude.
St. Jude and the NFL have a partnership that spans more than seven years and includes the NFL PLAY 60 program and Run Rich Run. These fundraising programs help patients and families cope with serious illnesses through play therapy, peer interaction and more. The combined efforts are instrumental in creating support and awareness for the lifesaving mission of St. Jude while also providing patients with unique experiences at various NFL events.
Help end childhood cancer
Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since it opened more than 50 years ago. We won't stop until no child dies from cancer.