This weekend is all about the number 20 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. On Saturday, Dec. 4, approximately 20,000 people across the world will unite to run, walk and fundraise for the 20th running of the St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend presented by Juice Plus+®. What’s more, tomorrow marks the event’s return to Memphis as a hybrid event after going fully virtual in 2020.
This year’s participants come from all 50 states and 72 countries and include 5,151 St. Jude Heroes® who have raised more than $12 million through this event while training to support research and treatment at St. Jude for childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Several of the St. Jude Heroes share a deep history with the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, having run in every year of this event since its debut. They include Raj Betapudi, Rich VanMeter, Keri Nunley, Donnie Baldock, St. Jude employee Miriam Dillard and the 2021 Hero Among Us award honoree Joe Birch. Their stories can be found here on St. Jude Inspire.
Since its inception in 2002 with fewer than 3,000 participants, the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend has become a marquee event, attracting up to 26,500 participants annually. This growth is generated by the continued dedication of local, national and worldwide supporters and partners who share a passion for the St. Jude mission: Finding cures. Saving children.® Race weekend has become the largest single-day fundraising event for St. Jude. Because of events like this, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food so they can focus on helping their child live.
Note: All registered participants, guests, volunteers and partners must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have a negative COVID-19 test result administered between Wednesday, Dec. 1- Friday, Dec. 3.
About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since the hospital opened in 1962. St. Jude won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.