Thank you for being a St. Jude Hero for the 2026 St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend presented by Juice Plus+! Your commitment to the kids and families of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is inspiring. We hope this guide will answer common questions and help you make the most of the benefits and experiences you are entitled to.
A St. Jude Hero is committing to their fundraising goal by providing a credit card to ensure the full fundraising commitment is met by the fundraising deadline. A Hero will not be permitted to pick up their bib and run on race day if they have not met their commitment or put a credit card on file.
- During the commitment process, a Hero that has met or exceeded their commitment (based on participation type) will not have to put a credit card on file. Any Hero that has not met their commitment is required to provide a credit card to reserve race weekend benefits. The card must be valid past the charge date of Dec. 18, 2026.
- The fundraising deadline is Dec. 17, 2026, with a charge date of Dec. 18, 2026. In the unlikely event that you have not met your commitment, your card on file will be charged for the balance on Dec. 18, 2026.
| Registration Type | Open Date | Close Date |
|---|---|---|
| Elite | July 14, 10 a.m. CT | Sept. 1, 11:59 p.m. CT |
| Premier | July 21, 10 a.m. CT | Sept. 1, 11:59 p.m. CT |
| Platinum | July 28, 10 a.m. CT | Sept. 1, 11:59 p.m. CT |
| Gold | Aug. 4, 10 a.m. CT | Sept. 1, 11:59 p.m. CT |
| Silver | Aug. 11, 10 a.m. CT | Sept. 1, 11:59 p.m. CT |
| Bronze | Aug. 18, 10 a.m. CT | Sept. 1, 11:59 p.m. CT |
- Be on the lookout for a Coaching Email from stjudememphismarathon@fundraising.stjude.org on the day your reservation window opens. The email will deploy around 10 a.m. CT.
- Your Fundraising Coach will send you a reminder when your window opens.
An email will be sent on the opening day for the participant to commit (if necessary) and to select benefits. Benefits are first come, first served and only the level for that timeframe will be able to select benefits. If a higher-level Hero missed their date, they can still select benefits with a lower level, however if an experience is sold out, they will not be able to reserve a spot.
A St. Jude Hero is permitted a one-time modification of benefits during the reservations period. Modification selection is subject to available tickets at that time. Heroes must have their credit card on file or have met their fundraising commitment in order to reserve benefits. Benefits are predetermined by their St. Jude Hero Fundraising Commitment Level. Modifications must be completed by a Hero before Sept. 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CT.
In certain instances, a St. Jude Hero may be exempt from meeting the required minimum fundraising commitment resulting in their race participation cancellation. This only applies to the following circumstances:
- Medical injury, with a valid doctor’s note on office letterhead
- Pregnancy, with a valid doctor’s note on office letterhead
- Military deployment, with a valid letter from the commanding officer
Upon cancellation based on one of the above extenuating circumstances, a St. Jude Hero will be released of their fundraising commitment via email communication. There are no refunds, transfers between participants or to a new participant. This applies to both virtual and in-person St. Jude Heroes.
Heroes must use a credit or debit card that remains valid through the fundraising deadline. If a card expires before the deadline, the registration form will not accept it. The policy helps ensure ALSAC can successfully collect any remaining commitments after the deadline and supports a smoother process for both Heroes and staff. Heroes should add a different card on file or contact their bank to request an updated card if needed.
**RESERVATIONS REQUIRED FOR EACH**
| Event | Date | Time | Venue | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Reception | Dec. 3, 2026 | 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. | Memphis Museum of Art |
Elite, Premier, Platinum |
| St. Jude Heroes Expo Lounge (Day 1) | Dec. 3, 2026 |
Noon - 7 p.m. |
Renasant Convention Center |
Elite, Premier, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze |
| St. Jude Heroes Expo Lounge (Day 2) | Dec. 4, 2026 | Noon - 8 p.m. | Renasant Convention Center | Elite, Premier, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze |
| Campus Experience + Tours | Dec. 4, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. | SJCRH Campus |
Elite, Premier |
| St. Jude Heroes Pasta Party | Dec. 4, 2026 | 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. | Renasant Convention Center |
Elite, Premier, Platinum, Gold, Silver |
| Race Day Hospitality - AutoZone Park | Dec. 5, 2026 | 5:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. | AutoZone Park |
Elite, Premier, Platinum, Gold, Silver |
| Race Day Hospitality - Quarter Million Dollar Club | Dec. 5, 2026 | Not specified | Greyhound @ Hilton Garden Inn |
Elite, Premier, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze |
-
Elite entry
$25,000
† For Platinum & above levels, reservations are required for all events, but allotment is guaranteed.
Elite Heroes will receive:Entry & Gear- Complimentary race entry
- Technical training shirt
- New St. Jude Heroes Singlet or Tech Shirt
- Commemorative race gear
- $150 St. Jude Merchandise credit
- Exclusive Race Day Gear
Access†- Expo Lounge (four complimentary tickets)
- Race Weekend Welcome Reception (two complimentary tickets)
- St. Jude campus experience
- St. Jude tour and mission experience
- Pasta Party (two complimentary tickets plus two guest tickets for purchase)
- Race Day Hospitality (two complimentary tickets plus two guest tickets for purchase)
Travel†
- Three-night hotel stay (Thursday-Saturday)
- 50K American Airlines Miles
-
Premier entry
$10,000
† For Platinum & above levels, reservations are required for all events, but allotment is guaranteed.
Premier Heroes will receive:Entry & Gear- Complimentary race entry
- Technical training shirt
- New St. Jude Heroes Singlet or Tech Shirt
- Commemorative race gear
- $100 St. Jude Merchandise credit
Access†- Expo Lounge (four complimentary tickets)
- Race Weekend Welcome Reception (two complimentary tickets)
- St. Jude campus experience
- Pasta Party (two complimentary tickets plus two guest tickets for purchase)
- Race Day Hospitality (two complimentary tickets plus two guest tickets for purchase)
Travel†- Three-night hotel stay (Thursday-Saturday)
- 50K American Airlines Miles
-
Platinum entry
$6,500
† For Platinum & above levels, reservations are required for all events, but allotment is guaranteed.
Platinum Heroes will receive:Entry & Gear- Complimentary race entry
- Technical training shirt
- New St. Jude Heroes Singlet or Tech Shirt
- Commemorative race gear
- $75 St. Jude Merchandise credit
Access†
- Expo Lounge (four complimentary tickets)
- Race Weekend Welcome Reception (two complimentary tickets)
- Pasta Party (two complimentary tickets plus two guest tickets for purchase)
- Race Day Hospitality (two complimentary tickets plus two guest tickets for purchase)
Travel†
- Three-night hotel stay (Thursday-Saturday)
-
Gold entry
$4,000
* Reservations are required for all events. All reservations first come, first served and subject to availability.
Gold Heroes will receive:Entry & Gear- Complimentary race entry
- Technical training shirt
- New St. Jude Heroes Singlet or Tech Shirt
- Commemorative race gear
- $50 St. Jude Merchandise credit
Access*
- Expo Lounge (four complimentary tickets)
- Pasta Party (one complimentary ticket plus three guest tickets for purchase)
- Race Day Hospitality (one complimentary ticket plus three guest tickets for purchase)
Travel*
- Two-night hotel stay (Friday-Saturday)
-
Silver entry
$1,750
* Reservations are required for all events. All reservations first come, first served and subject to availability.
Silver Heroes will receive:Entry & Gear- Complimentary race entry
- Technical training shirt
- New St. Jude Heroes Singlet or Tech Shirt
- Commemorative race gear
- $25 St. Jude Merchandise credit
Access*
- Expo Lounge (two complimentary tickets)
- Pasta Party (one complimentary ticket plus one guest ticket for purchase)
- Race Day Hospitality (one complimentary ticket plus one guest ticket for purchase)
-
Bronze entry
$750
* Reservations are required for all events. All reservations first come, first served and subject to availability.
Bronze Heroes will receive:
Entry & Gear
- Complimentary race entry
- Technical training shirt
- New St. Jude Heroes Singlet or Tech Shirt
- $15 St. Jude Merchandise credit
Access*
- Expo Lounge (two complimentary tickets)
- St. Jude Heroes benefits are non-transferrable.
- There are no waitlists for any race weekend events.
- All Heroes and their guests must have a ticket to enter each experience. All St. Jude Heroes HopeBands, which include tickets will be picked up at the Health & Fitness Expo in Heroes Packet Pick-up by the Hero. No paper tickets will be provided.
Hotels
- Hotel stays will be Thursday, Dec. 3 - Sunday, Dec. 6 for Elite, Premier and Platinum or Friday, Dec. 4 – Sunday, Dec. 6 for Gold.
- Eligible St. Jude Heroes may receive access to hotel accommodations based on their registration level. Elite Heroes will have the option to select Hotel Napolean. Premier, Platinum and Gold Heroes will have hotel options at select downtown properties, listed below.
- Heroes requesting a room with two beds must include guest name(s) in the reservation Roommate Information or Special Requests field in the reservation form. Double-bed rooms are limited, and requests are not guaranteed.
| Hotel | Registration Type |
|---|---|
| Aloft | Gold |
| Westin | Gold |
| Hyatt Centric | Gold |
| The Peabody | Premier, Platinum and Gold |
| Hilton Garden Inn | Premier, Platinum and Gold |
| Canopy | Premier, Platinum and Gold |
| Hotel Napolean | Elite |
American Airlines Miles
- American Airlines miles are a benefit for Elite and Premier Heroes.
- Airline miles are scheduled to be released the first week of September.
- In order to collect the miles, you must have the email address associated with your AAdvantage Account and your account number.
St. Jude Heroes Expo Lounge
- The St. Jude Heroes Expo Lounge is an exclusive experience for St. Jude Heroes and their guests during St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend Health & Fitness Expo at the Renasant Convention Center. Elite, Premier, Platinum and Gold Heroes may reserve up to four total complimentary tickets, including the Hero. Silver and Bronze Heroes may reserve up to two total complimentary tickets, including the Hero.
- Reservations are required, and Heroes will be asked to select an estimated visit time to help manage capacity and guest flow. All guests must have a ticket to enter the lounge, and guest wristbands will be provided at Hero Packet Pick Up.
| Registration Type | Complimentary Tickets |
|---|---|
| Elite | 4 |
| Premier | 4 |
| Platinum | 4 |
| Gold | 4 |
| Silver | 2 |
| Bronze | 2 |
Race Weekend Welcome Reception
The Race Weekend Welcome Reception is an invite-only event for eligible St. Jude Heroes and a guest. This exclusive benefit is available to Elite, Premier and Platinum Heroes. Tickets are not available for purchase; attendees must be 21 or older.
On Campus Experience
Elite and Premier St. Jude Heroes are invited to a mission-focused experience on the St. Jude campus on Friday, Dec. 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Shuttles will begin loading at the Peabody Hotel at 8 a.m. Each eligible Hero may bring one guest; due to campus security and background check requirements, the guest listed on the registration form must be the person who attends with the Hero.
St. Jude Heroes Pasta Party
- Pasta Party Tickets will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the maximum capacity is reached, no additional tickets will be available. Heroes have the opportunity to reserve complimentary tickets for each Hero level and purchase additional tickets while supplies last. Tickets are capable of selling out.
- Children 5 and under do not require a ticket. Anyone who needs a seat at the event must have a ticket.
- Elite, Premier, Platinum, Gold and Silver St. Jude Heroes are eligible for the St. Jude Heroes Pasta Party on Friday, December 4 at the Renasant Convention Center. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and must be reserved. Tickets may sell out once capacity is reached. Guest tickets are $55 each.
- Dietary restrictions should be added when making your reservations.
| Registration Type | Complimentary Tickets | Guest Tickets (For Purchase) |
|---|---|---|
| Elite | 2 | 2 |
| Premier | 2 | 2 |
| Platinum | 2 | 2 |
| Gold | 1 | 3 (if available) |
| Silver | 1 | 1 (if available) |
| Bronze | 0 | 0 |
Race Day Hospitality
Silver, Gold, Platinum, Premier and Elite St. Jude Heroes have access to Race Day Hospitality at AutoZone Park, with eligible Quarter Million Dollar Club teams also hosted at Greyhound. Hospitality spaces will be open on race day from 5:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Children 5 and under do not need a ticket; all guests over age 5 must have a ticket to enter. Premier and Platinum Heroes may purchase their full allotment of guest tickets, with any remaining tickets made available to Gold Heroes. Guest tickets are $55 each, benefits are non-transferable, and there is no waitlist this year.
| Registration Type | Complimentary Tickets | Guest Tickets (For Purchase) |
|---|---|---|
| Elite | 2 | 2 |
| Premier | 2 | 2 |
| Platinum | 2 | 2 |
| Gold | 1 | 3 |
| Silver | 1 | 1 |
| Bronze | 0 | 0 |