Meet your medal
Every mile you run makes a difference for St. Jude kids, and your dedication deserves a medal! While we can't hand it over just yet, we can tell you to watch for this month's medal reveal. Stay tuned!
This carseat cover could be yours! The first 250 people to raise an additional $500 beginning Aug. 4 at 10 a.m. CT will win an exclusive 25th Anniversary commemorative car seat cover. Continue fundraising to claim yours!
Training check-in: 16 weeks to go!
With 16 weeks until the race, your training runs should be frequent but manageable and focused on building mileage rather than speed. Make sure you are fueling and hydrating, especially in summer temperatures. You've got this!
Still need a training plan? Find yours here.
Get an A+ in fundraising.
As families prepare for a new school year, save and share this Back to School Fundraising board to raise money for St. Jude! Print it out, fill it in with your distance and fundraising goal and then post to social media. Join in on the fun!
For extra credit: Use the "I Love St. Jude" app to generate a QR code that links to your fundraising page. Print out the code with a few sentences about why you're fundraising and then hand it out at back-to-school events or post it on bulletin boards at your local YMCA, library or community center.
Resources & Reminders
Missed a previous newsletter? Check them out below.
Change request deadline: Oct. 15
- Last day to request a participant-type change (e.g., in-person to virtual)
- Last day to request a distance change (pending availability)
Download the "I Love St. Jude" app to experience more fundraising momentum and to track your fingerprint on the mission.
- Create St. Jude patient art inspired posts to share via text or social media
- Create a custom QR code
- Deposit checks
- Send thank-you messages
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Reserving your benefits
We've got some important dates coming up! The first benefit reservation window opens next week for Elite Heroes, followed by subsequent weekly openings through the end of August for Premier, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze Heroes.
Benefit reservations are based on a first come, first served basis. We recommend setting a reminder in your phone to lock in your perks as early as possible. If you are on a team, be sure to coordinate race weekend plans with your team captain. Reservations will open at 10 a.m. CT on each open date!
Reservations open dates
- July 14 - Elite
- July 21 - Premier
- July 28 - Platinum
- August 4 - Gold
- August 11 - Silver
- August 18 - Bronze
When your reservation window opens, take these steps to secure your St. Jude Hero benefits:
Step 1: Confirm your commitment — do this today!
- Log in using your event credentials set up when you registered.
- Click Commit for St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend. You will not becharged today. In the unlikely event that you have not met your fundraising commitment by Thursday, December 17, your card will be charged the difference at that time.
Step 2: Reserve your benefits — be on the lookout for a reminder email!
- Click the Select your Benefits button to reserve your St. Jude Heroes benefits.
- You must fill out the reservation form to reserve benefits. If you do not make reservations, you opt out of your benefits.
Soon, you'll be running through the St. Jude campus, seeing the families and kids cheering you on with hope and gratitude. It's going to be a historic moment, 25 years in the making!
We are so happy to have you with us to celebrate the 25th anniversary of St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend presented by Juice Plus+. We are here to support you in your journey, including monthly newsletters (just like this one!) with fundraising tips, important event updates and exciting promotions for fun prizes!
Keep reading! Resources and reminders to help you make the most of your fundraising efforts below.
Resources & Reminders
The new "I LOVE ST. JUDE" app is here! We're excited to bring fundraising features to the palm of your hand, but we're also excited to let you know this is only the beginning. As time goes on, the I Love St. Jude app will be the place for you to experience the mission of St. Jude in another way.
Manage your progress
- Set or change your fundraising goal
- See real time progress towards your goal
Collect Donations
- Access mobile check deposit
- Create your custome QR code for real time donations
- Easily grab your personal fundraising link to share via text, email or socials
Fundraise as a team
- Create or join a team
- Check on your team's progress
Shoutouts & Celebrations
Fundraising is heating up this month! Ramp up your impact for a stylish reward — secure a spot among the top 100 individuals who fundraise the most between July 1 and July 31 to earn an exclusive pair of St. Jude sunglasses to wear on race day.
You are part of what makes this race so powerful — keep up the amazing work.
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June 2026
Time to level up.
For 25 years, participants like you have helped fuel progress toward curing childhood cancer. You're at the heart of what makes this race so impactful — thank you for carrying the hope forward.
You are already making an impact with your St. Jude Hero commitment. Want to take it to the next level? Increasing your St. Jude Hero commitment can make a huge difference for families at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Upgrade by June 30 to take your impact further and enjoy additional perks and race weekend benefits.
Your fundraising coach is your cheerleader and strategist for hitting your goal. They should have already reached out to introduce themselves and help you start building a plan. They'll stay in regular touch to offer tips and resources, and you can always reach out with questions.
Resources & Reminders
June 30: Last day to upgrade Hero commitment level or change to being a Hero (pending availability)
Reservations Open Dates:
- July 14 — Elite
- July 21 — Premier
- July 28 — Platinum
- August 4 — Gold
- August 11 — Silver
- August 18 — Bronze
Pro Tip: Use our new social media graphics to fundraise and reach new supporters.
Shoutouts and Celebrations
Congratulations to our top 50 teams for winning the May recruitment challenge and earning the exclusive 25th anniversary decal!
Shaw Industries
FUNraiser's for St. Jude
Down South Heroes
Cenla Runners Heroes
RAISING4ACURE
Kamryn's Cause
NELA Road Warriors
Team Alyssa Rocks; Dude Dance
Anna's Flying Pigs
Runwell for St. Jude
Keep Up The Pace
Cajun Crew
teamchasebailey77
Scout's Army
Team ESA
Team FedEx
Swamp Donkeys
Team Yolo
Triple A
Team Erica
Team Easton
We Run at Dawn
Team Eli
Poplar Bluff Heroes
Team Carson Elizabeth
Warriors vs Cancer
The Dudes
Team WillPower
Running on Empty
St. Jude Run Club
Team Aaron Bell
#SaveJosh
North MS St. Jude Heroes
Big River Runners For St. Jude Kids
Miles for Charlotte
EmilyStrong
#EmilyStrong
Breakaway Running for a Cause
Team Lindsey
Juice Plus+
Pelkey Running Club
Running with Grace
Varsity Brands
Caleb Hammer Strong
Super Sully
Team Carter ((HUGS!!))
Strong As Gold
Team Hertwig
Team David
Team Rhodes
Cajun Heroes
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This is your year to go all in.
We're kicking off a huge milestone — the 25th anniversary of St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend presented by Juice Plus+! This is a historic moment more than two decades in the making, and we're so excited you're part of it.
News & Updates is your monthly go-to for resources and reminders as you prepare for race day. Your fundraising coach is also a great resource as you build momentum toward your fundraising goal. If they haven't already, they'll be reaching out soon.
Want to take your impact further?
You can upgrade your St. Jude Hero commitment level through June 30 (pending availability). The higher your commitment, the greater your benefits will be, including race weekend hospitality and exclusive St. Jude Children's Research Hospital commemorative gear.
The brand new St. Jude Heroes singlet and tech shirt just dropped! Rep the impact you're making for kids with cancer on race day — earn yours when you raise $250.
Fundraising Tip: Invite 5 friends or family members to give $50 each — or mixand match amounts to reach $250 quickly.
Thank you for showing up for the kids of St. Jude. We'll be cheering you on every step of your journey! Ready to hit the ground running? Let's do this!
Shoutouts and Celebrations
The leaderboard is live — see where you rank and watch the momentum build across this historic 25th anniversary season! Every dollar raised moves you closer to the top. View the leaderboard.
Important Dates
- June 2, 2026: Last day to register as a St. Jude Hero
- June 3, 2026: General registration opens at 10 a.m. CT
- June 30, 2026: Last day to upgrade St. Jude Hero commitment level or change to being a St. Jude Hero (pending availability)
Mission Moment
St. Jude Hero Cade Baccus completed an extraordinary feat — running seven marathons on seven continents in just seven days as part of the World Marathon Challenge®. Taking on extreme conditions across the globe, he pushed his physical and mental limits, all to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude. Read more.