Team Captain Newsletters

Thank you for all you're doing to move our mission forward and inspire your teammates. Your leadership deserves a medal! While we can't hand it over just yet, we can tell you to watch for this month's medal reveal. 

Startline swag is ready to ship.

It's time to gear up for race day! Remind your team that once they raise $250, they'll receive an email from stjuderewards@halo.com to select their choice of the new singlet or tech shirt.

If they haven't reached $250 yet, there's still time! Encourage them to share a fundraising update with their network and ask for $25 donations in honor of the 25th anniversary of St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend presented by Juice Plus+. 

There's no such thing as a team too big. 

Keep recruiting teammates! There are still spots available for new participants to join your team in Memphis or virtually from anywhere and help multiply your impact for St. Jude kids. 

The car seat cover is still up for grabs!

The first 250 people to raise $500 beginning August 4th will win an exclusive 25th Anniversary commemorative car seat cover. Continue fundraising to claim yours and remind your team of what they can earn! 

Resources & Reminders

Download the "I Love St. Jude" app to experience more fundraising momentum and to track you and your team's fingerprint on the mission.

• Create social posts in Campaign Studio
• Get notified when you receive a donation
• Send thank-you messages
• Get a pulse check on your team's progress
• Recruit new members

Mark your calendar. 

Make sure these dates are on your team's radar:

Hero benefits reservations: September 1
The deadline to secure or change benefits is just a couple weeks away. Reminder, all benefits are first come, first served and based on availability. Benefits are not automatically awarded. They must be reserved during this period.

Change request deadline: October 15

• Last day to request a participant-type change (e.g., in-person to virtual)
• Last day to request a distance change (pending availability)

Captain's Corner:

Last year, Team Captain Mike S. and his team, FUNraiser's for St. Jude, raised an incredible $332,244. His biggest fundraising tip? Start with what you already know and love — and invite others to join in.

"Use your talents. Are you an artist? Can you bake? Can you crochet? Create something if you can and market it. Do you have a talented friend who can do something cool? Get them involved and all of a sudden this starts to evolve and continues to grow. Get your children involved. They are great at marketing." 

Shoutouts & Celebrations 

Huge kudos to the top 100 individual fundraisers from July — you've earned an exclusive pair of St. Jude sunglasses to wear on race day! Did you have a top 100 fundraiser on your team? Be sure to give them a shoutout.

Training check-in: 16 weeks to go. 

With four months until the race, your training runs should be frequent but manageable and focused more on building mileage rather than speed. Make sure you are fueling and hydrating, especially in summer temperatures.

You've got this! 

Fundraising is heating up this month! Ramp up your impact for a stylish reward — secure a spot among the top 100 individual fundraisers between July 1 and July 31 to earn an exclusive pair of St. Jude sunglasses to wear on race day. No matter where you started this month, everyone has a chance to be one of the top 100 fundraisers in July.

Don't forget to share the St. Jude sunglasses promotion with your team members. You could even have a challenge within your team for the top fundraisers or set a team goal for the month of July!

Your leadership drives momentum across the entire St. Jude marathon community and especially members, thank you for all you do.

Make your race weekend plans

We've got some important dates coming up that you'll want to make sure your teammates are aware of. 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 encouraging your teammates to set a calendar reminder to lock in their benefits as early as possible. Accommodations also vary, so it's a good idea to coordinate ahead of time where you and your teammates will stay.

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!

• Once your reservations are open, you will receive an email with instructions on how to reserve your benefits!

Before long, you will be running through the St. Jude campus, surrounded by the cheers and gratitude of the families and children you support. This historic 25th-anniversary milestone is a moment you won't want to miss!

Pick up your fundraising pace and track your progress this month in the I Love St. Jude app. Ask for $80 donations in honor of the treatments developed at St. Jude that have helped push the U.S. childhood cancer survival rate from 20% in 1962 to more than 80% today.

Level up, win big!

Ready to level up? If you or your members would like to upgrade your race experience, now’s the time. You can increase your St. Jude Hero commitment through June 30 (pending availability) and enjoy even more benefits.

Now through June 30, Team Captains from the 25 teams who recruit the most NEW participants will earn an exclusive St. Jude hat. You can now recruit general participants — so keep growing your team! Winners will be notified in early July.

Momentum starts with you.

Your team looks to you to set the pace. Make a self-donation, then encourage your team members to do the same on their own fundraising pages. It's a powerful way to inspire more support for St. Jude kids.

Captain's Corner

We spoke with Paula Head, Team Captain for Team Carson Elizabeth, about her recruitment tips for building a strong team.

"We focus on sharing our 'why' in everything we do. We send out a mission-driven email to family, friends and past participants inviting them to join us. We also do a lot of personal one-on-one invitations, and on social media, we regularly share our story and link to our team page to bring in new members."

Shoutouts and Celebrations

Congratulations to our top 50 teams for winning the May recruitment challenge and earning the exclusive 25th anniversary decal!

Climb the leaderboard!

Now through May 31, build one of the top 50 largest teams with the most registered participants and score a brand-new, exclusive 25th anniversary St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend presented by Juice Plus+ decal for you plus all your members!

Keep recruiting team members and climb to the top — secure your decal and the bragging rights that come with it.

Lock in your singlet or tech shirt early.

Be the first to rep the new St. Jude Heroes singlet or tech shirt as soon as it ships — this summer. Raise $250 and encourage your teammates to do the same. Then snap photos of your crew in their new gear to inspire donations.

As the heartbeat of this race community, you bring the energy and drive that makes St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend presented by Juice Plus+ so impactful for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital kids. Thank you for leading the charge during this milestone year!

We are all here to support you — and high five you — from now until you cross the finish line. It's go time. Your adventure begins now!

Multiply Your Impact. Build Your Team.
Every team member you recruit brings their own network and oomph — expanding your reach and making an even greater difference for kids and families facing childhood cancer.

Invite friends who've supported you before, coworkers who love a team challenge and anyone who's been looking for a reason to run, walk or fundraise.

Don't be afraid to ask boldly. This is a special year, and people love being part of something historic.

Pro tip: Encourage your teammates to recruit, too! Make it easy to stay connected.

Strong teams talk often. Early on, choose how you'll stay in touch with your crew:

• Private Facebook group
• Group text or WhatsApp
• Email updates
• Quick monthly check-ins on Zoom
• Post team wide announcements from your Fundraising Center

Choose one main channel and stick with it. Consistent communication keeps motivation high and ensures no one misses important updates.

Start fundraising early and build momentum.

Did you know Team Captains can raise 4.5X more than individuals? While fundraising goals are individual, there's something powerful about doing something together. When everyone rallies around the same goal, the experience becomes more meaningful — and more fun!

Set a team goal and start planning ways to get your team fired up:

• A kickoff gathering
• Restaurant give-back nights
• Friendly team fundraising challenges

Remind your teammates that every dollar brings lifesaving care to St. Jude kids.

Shoutouts and Celebrations

The leaderboard is live! Each month, see where your team ranks and celebrate the momentum building across this historic 25th anniversary year. View leaderboards.

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)

Team Captain Thursday is your new monthly go-to for updates, resources and reminders to help you guide your crew along the way.

As the heartbeat of this race community, you bring the energy and drive that makes St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend presented by Juice Plus+ so impactful for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital kids. Thank you for leading the charge during this milestone year!

We are all here to support you — and high five you — from now until you cross the finish line. It's go time. Your adventure begins now!

Multiply Your Impact. Build Your Team.

Every team member you recruit brings their own network and oomph — expanding your reach and making an even greater difference for kids and families facing childhood cancer.

Invite friends who've supported you before, coworkers who love a team challenge and anyone who's been looking for a reason to run, walk or fundraise.

Don't be afraid to ask boldly. This is a special year, and people love being part of something historic.

Pro tip: Encourage your teammates to recruit, too! Make it easy to stay connected.

Strong teams talk often. Early on, choose how you'll stay in touch with your crew:

• Private Facebook group
• Group text or WhatsApp
• Email updates
• Quick monthly check-ins on Zoom
• Post team wide announcements from your Fundraising Center

Choose one main channel and stick with it. Consistent communication keeps motivation high and ensures no one misses important updates.

Start fundraising early and build momentum.

Did you know Team Captains can raise 4.5X more than individuals? While fundraising goals are individual, there's something powerful about doing something together. When everyone rallies around the same goal, the experience becomes more meaningful — and more fun!

Set a team goal and start planning ways to get your team fired up:

• A kickoff gathering
• Restaurant give-back nights
• Friendly team fundraising challenges

Remind your teammates that every dollar brings lifesaving care to St. Jude kids.

Shoutouts and Celebrations

The leaderboard is live! Each month, see where your team ranks and celebrate the momentum building across this historic 25th anniversary year. View leaderboards.

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)