The annual St. Jude Run is still over 120 days away but the annual fundraising event will be here before we know it. The St. Jude Run is held every summer where runners from all over will participate in one of the many satellite runs to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis and its affiliates hospitals like the one here in Peoria at OSF. The run features the big Memphis to Peoria run and an additional 39 satellite runs for those who want to still take part but can’t commit to the more rigorous Memphis run.
This will be my fifth year taking part in the Chicago To Peoria run and this year I have set a fundraising goal of $10,000 to match what I raised in 2015. As of today, March 30th I am half way there with $5,005 dollars raised. This year I am also dedicating my fundraising efforts, miles and money raised to the memory of Reagan Wednesday Kuehn. Reagan unfortunately lost her battle to cancer this past November, I had the privilege of meeting her 2-years ago while she was receiving treatment in Memphis, and her family is from Streator, Illinois. To read more about Reagan please read her story here. When I heard of her passing I vowed to raise $10,000 before the run this summer, July 29-30th, in hopes that we will never have to tell a story like hers again and in hopes that sharing her legacy will help others who have faced the same difficult battle that she and her family has.
One of the main reasons I support St. Jude is because of the research they have done, which they share worldwide, the overall childhood cancer survival rate has gone from 20% to over 80%! Not only that the families who receive treatment at St. Jude NEVER PAY, in fact they never even SEE a bill. Not for food. Travel. Housing. Or Treatment! But St. Jude can only offer those kind of things with your help and your donations. I ask you, will you please help? Will you be a part of making a difference in a local family’s life, and cure for their child? Will you instead of buying a round of drinks for you friends donate that $25 to St. Jude? That’s all I ask. A small amount adds up and goes far, let’s make a difference together.
Reagan was six years old
Her story will NEVER be okay.
Let’s make sure it never happens again.
Donate! Now! Here! www.peoriaruns.stjude.org/IRunForReagan
(Side note) The St. Jude Dream home is just weeks away, you can visit the dream home this Saturday and Sunday, during an open house located in the Hunters Trail Estates in Dunlap, 10904 N. Hunter’s Trail. For more information click here.
~Anna Kinkade
