St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® opens VIP registration for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend

MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 3, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Founded by Danny Thomas, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^®, which is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases, is calling on all to lace up their running shoes and register as a St. Jude Hero for the Th St. Jude Memphis Marathon^® Weekend.

Participants who fundraise for the hospital are called St. Jude Heroes because they Run for a Reason^® – to help ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so families can focus on what matters most – helping their child live. Those who register as St. Jude Heroes and commit to raise a minimum of $500 are able to sign up for any of the races including the full and half marathon, the 10K, and 5K during this VIP registration period.

"Funds raised by our St. Jude Heroes are critical in enabling St. Jude to find cures for some of the most aggressive childhood cancers and life-threatening diseases," said Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "Unfortunately, one in five children diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. do not survive. That's why we need the community's help to reach the day that we can defeat these terrible diseases once and for all. We hope passionate runners will sign up and run for a reason as St. Jude Heroes to support our heroes: the patients of St. Jude."

The St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend presented by Juice Plus+^® is a collaborative effort between ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Memphis Runners Track Club to help children battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Not only is this fundraising event unique, it is considered "the best tour of Memphis on two feet."

Last year, the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend raised more than $10 million, and created strong awareness for the St. Jude Heroes program. This year's event is expected to attract more than 25,000 participants in downtown Memphis. The St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend is one of only two major marathons owned and operated by a not for profit and where the funds raised go to a single charity, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

To learn more or register for the race as a St. Jude Hero, visit stjude.org/marathon2017.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Founded by Danny Thomas, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. 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 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and we won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely 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. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook (facebook.com/stjude) and following us on Twitter (@stjude).

SOURCE ALSAC / St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Related Links

http://stjude.org