Student Contributor -K. Allen
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a nonprofit specialized hospital and research center that provides care for children with cancer and catastrophic illnesses. St. Jude provides amazing care and resources for families in need from all 50 states and around the world with their international outreach program. Their mission statement is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of the founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion, or a family’s ability to pay.
Currently about 7,500 patients are seen and treated annually. Discoveries at St. Jude have profoundly changed the way that doctors treat children with cancer and other catastrophic illnesses using the most current treatment that their research has developed. Since the origination was established in 1962, the overall survival rate for children with cancer has risen from 20% to 80%. Doctors from around the world consult with St. Jude on some of their most challenging cases, demonstrating leadership of St. Jude across the world. Their daily operating cost is 1.8 million dollars, which is primarily covered through fundraising, donations, and partnerships with large corporations.
There are excellent existing partnerships/fundraising opportunities available to teachers and students. This includes the St. Jude Trike-A-Thon that involves teachers, students, families, and the community in raising money for furthering research about childhood cancer. The St. Jude Trike-A-Thon is great for Preschool and Kindergarten age students. When teachers partner with St. Jude, they receive curriculum to help educate their students about trike/bike riding safely and inform them about children’s research hospitals. The students also learn the positive effect they will have on children across the world by contributing through this fundraiser. The students and families benefit in many ways, including; repatriating in a fun event, raising money, winning prizes, and learning the value of helping others in need.
