On Saturday, Nov. 23, thousands of participants in 75 cities will gather for the St. Jude Give thanks. Walk., a noncompetitive 5K that to date has raised more than $11 million to help St. Jude Children's Research Hospital continue to lead the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other deadly diseases.
Participants are encouraged to form teams and fundraise for St. Jude. This year, all registered participants who receive 10 online donations between November 1 and November 22 will be entered into a drawing to win a trip for two to New York City, two tickets to a live taping of LIVE! with Kelly and Michael and a photo opportunity with co-host and St. Jude friend, Michael Strahan. Participants must be 18 years old to qualify. Additional contest rules apply.
Unlike any other hospital, St. Jude relies on funding from individual contributors to help support its mission of finding cures to save children battling cancer. Because of donations, 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.
The Quinlan family of Florida has witnessed firsthand the impact of St. Jude’s mission and the significance of this event. Last December, 13-year-old Brian Quinlan passed the five-year cancer-free mark after receiving treatment at St. Jude for leukemia when he was just four. The family will not wait until Thanksgiving Day to give thanks and plans to participate in the St. Jude Give thanks. Walk. in Palm Beach County. Brian’s mom Nancy describes the fundraising event as a wonderful gathering of families and friends.
“The atmosphere on the day of the walk is so energizing,” she says. “It is amazing to participate in a St. Jude fundraiser after being a patient family at St. Jude. We are so grateful for Brian’s good health, and we want to make sure that the hospital has everything we can contribute to help other children and families in the future.”
The St. Jude Give thanks. Walk. serves as the official kick-off event for the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign, an unprecedented union of celebrities, media, retail and corporate partners that asks consumers to donate during the holiday season and join St. Jude in finding cures and saving children.
“The St. Jude Give thanks. Walk. has truly become a national event uniting people from across the country to raise funds and awareness for our fight against childhood cancer,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “Every person who walks gives hope to our kids and their families by supporting the pioneering research and care at St. Jude, and that is an inspiring way to begin the season of giving.”
The St. Jude Give thanks. Walk. brings together not only friends and family members, but also St. Jude celebrity friends and local personalities. History Channel’s American Pickers star Mike Wolfe and supermodel Lily Aldridge will be at the Nashville event walking alongside participants. Actresses Jennette McCurdy, Elise Neal, Elisabeth Rohm, Olivia Holt and Kalia Prescott will join walkers in Los Angeles on the course around Paramount Pictures Studio. In New York City, radio personality Elvis Duran and businessman Eric Trump have been busy fundraising as part of their walk team, “Elvis Trumps Cancer,” and two-time cancer survivor and reality television personality Diem Brown will also attend that event. Chicago walkers will get a warm welcome from Chicago Fire actor Joe Minoso.
The event also receives support from National Partner Teams New York & Company, AutoTrader.com and Brooks Brothers as well as National Volunteer Teams Delta Delta Delta, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Iota Phi Theta.
To register for the walk today and help kids like Brian receive lifesaving care, visit www.givethankswalk.org.
