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In case you missed it…IT’S ST. JUDE RUNS WEEK!!!!
This is a very special week for Greater Peoria. Every year, thousands of runners raise money and run for the kids of St. Jude. It all started with “One Crazy Idea” by a young man named, Michael McCoy, 43 years ago. I have been running for St. Jude Runs for 21 years – 10 years were with the Tri-County Run and I am in my 11th year of running from Memphis. This organization is such a huge part of our family’s life. I started running when our first born was 6 months old. As they got older, our daughters became involved in their own way. They started a lemonade stand and would help me raise money every year. Our daughters are now 21 and 18 years old. They are both joining me on the run this year!
With our daughters around 2009 at the St. Jude Telethon presenting our “big check” of $229.
The Memphis to Peoria runners start their journey tomorrow, Tuesday. We drive to Memphis and start running back to Peoria on Wednesday, getting back on Saturday. 36 more satellite runs have become a part of this incredible mission. We all run into Downtown Peoria Civic Center to the telethon which is the finale of an amazing week!
St. Jude Children’s Hospital holds an extra place in the community heart of Peoria, Illinois. It has for so many years, because one man has a vision and another brought it home to Peoria. Danny Thomas, founder of St. Jude, was friends with Peoria’s very own Jim Maloof (both pictured above).
The Story of St. Jude:
Jim Maloof would ALWAYS see us off before the Tri-County Run at 5:30am…
Jim’s connection:
https://www.osfhealthcare.org/childrens/services/cancer/st-jude-affiliate-clinic/
My view…I have been running for St. Jude Runs for 21 years. I will run for the kids until I cannot run anymore. I will run until we find a cure. St. Jude will always be a part of our family and my heart. It’s a legacy that Jim Maloof, our company’s founder, made a part of our company’s mission. It’s up to us to teach and pass that legacy along.
For more info on St. Jude Runs and the wonderful work they do, please go to:Â https://stjuderuns.org/
Our family and Mike McCoy, our friend and the founder of St. Jude Runs
Memphis Runners running across the bridge into Peoria (this was my first year doing memphis. See me in the green on the right???)
Welcomed back from Memphis by a special friend, Dylan, who at the time was going through treatment at St. Jude. THIS is why we run. (He is a healthy incoming high school freshman now!!!)
For the kids.♥
