A philanthropic tradition continues as art by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® patients will be featured throughout the 2023 FedEx St. Jude Championship, Aug. 10-13 at TPC Southwind.
- For the first time, St. Jude patient art head covers will be available for purchase at the on-site PGA TOUR Fan Shop and online to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude: Finding cures. Saving children.®
- In addition, select items featuring St. Jude patient art are now up for bid through Aug. 13 on the Birdies for St. Jude online auction. This annual auction gives St. Jude supporters the opportunity to own one-of-a-kind items signed by their favorite professional golfers. From caddie bibs and FootJoy golf shoes to putter covers and course signage, these pieces highlight how the golf community continues to give back to St. Jude through an event that has raised more than $65 million since 1970. Fans can register for a daily sweepstakes of exclusive items and experiences, beginning Aug. 10.
This year’s featured artwork is by St. Jude patients Maelin-Kate and Bridget. Maelin-Kate, along with other St. Jude patients, spent an afternoon receiving golf tips from Taylor Made athlete Collin Morikawa during the 2022 PGA TOUR stop. When Maelin-Kate’s parents brought her home from China after adopting her in 2017, they knew she had medical needs. She was diagnosed with Fanconi anemia, a rare genetic blood disorder that prevents bone marrow from making enough new blood cells for the body to work properly.
Bridget’s drawing of a fish is one of four caddie bib designs worn during the FedEx St. Jude Championship. In February 2018, after complaining of intense pain in the shin following soccer practice, she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the lower part of her right leg. Bridget became a patient at St. Jude, where she received lifesaving treatment and surgeries at no charge to her family.
“St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital focuses on treating the whole child, which includes promoting creativity through art,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “Every child deserves a chance to live their best life and celebrate every moment, and events like this show what we can achieve when we all unite for a common purpose. Support from our generous partners at FedEx and the golf community will help accelerate work by St. Jude to benefit more of the 400,000 children worldwide who develop cancer each year.”
Art therapy plays a crucial role in the comprehensive treatment plans at St. Jude, where child life specialists help kids to play, express themselves and care for their mental health throughout their time at St. Jude. When families, supporters and researchers walk the halls of St. Jude, patient art greets them through displays in hallways and common areas.
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. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was considered largely incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80%, and it won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even 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. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.