August 28th marks the beginning of Relay's sixth annual fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital!
Since 2019, the Relay community has raised $2.9 million for St. Jude. That's an incredible number, and it goes to one of the most important missions in the world.
Before St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Today, thanks in part to better therapies St. Jude has helped to develop, more than 80% of U.S. childhood cancer patients now become long-term survivors.
But there is still work to be done to help kids with cancer and the growing numbers of survivors: The number of childhood cancer survivors in the United States is expected to approach 580,000 by 2040.
The Hackett family encountered St. Jude's expertise first hand when Stephen and Merri's oldest son was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2009. He underwent surgery at a local hospital, but because of the tumor's location in his brain, it could not be completely removed. At. St. Jude, he received 18 rounds of chemotherapy to fight the remaining tumor. During treatment, Josiah underwent subsequent surgeries, and received physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
Today, what's left of the tumor is dormant and he participates in the St. Jude Life Study. Josiah attends school, church youth group, and loves volunteering with younger children. He has a younger brother and sister, and the three of them all love reading, music, playing basketball, and more.
This story is so much bigger than the Hackett family, and with your help, St. Jude will continue in its life-saving work for years to come.
When we rally for a common cause, we become more than a community, we become beacons of hope for all. That’s why we’re asking all of you to join Relay and St. Jude this September for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Together, we can help cure childhood cancer. Our cause unites all! Go to stjude.org/relay to donate or create your campaign today.