More than 75 runners, volunteers to participate in St. Jude Quincy to Peoria Run starting Friday

QUINCY — The 2023 St. Jude Quincy to Peoria Run takes place Friday and Saturday, Aug. 4-5, to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. More than 75 runners and volunteers are participating in the 19^th annual fundraiser. Runners from Hannibal, Mo., will take off at 1:30 p.m. and arrive in Quincy for a 2 p.m. send-off ceremony.

The Quincy run, which started in 2005, has raised $1,614,547 in its first 18 years. Each runner raises at least $1,000 to participate, with 100 percent going directly to St. Jude. Generous sponsors cover event expenses. The Quincy run is one of 35 satellite runs that support the larger Memphis to Peoria Run, which begins in Memphis, Tenn., where St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is located. Peoria is home to one of several St. Jude satellite hospitals.

Founded by Danny Thomas in 1962, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital aims to find cures and save children with pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases. The organization freely shares its breakthroughs with doctors and scientists worldwide and turns laboratory discoveries into lifesaving treatments. 

The treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survivor rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened. Families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food, so they can focus on helping their child live, regardless of the duration or cost of care. St. Jude also provides thousands of free consultations for doctors treating children worldwide, including kids in our communities.

It costs nearly $2 billion to sustain and grow St. Jude each year, with an estimated 89 percent coming from donors and fundraisers like the St. Jude Runs.

Timeline:

• 1 p.m.: Runner Check-In begins at Parking Lot F, 405 Vermont
• About 1:30 p.m.: Runners from Hannibal, Mo., arrive in Quincy
• 2 p.m.: Send-off Ceremony
• 2:30 p.m. – Runners line up on 5^th Street and depart, heading toward Maine Street
• Runners continue their 135-mile journey relay-style until reaching Peoria about 24 hours later to present a check at the St. Jude Telethon. They’re accompanied by 6 RVs and several support and safety vehicles.

More Information:

• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: https://www.stjude.org
• St. Jude Runs: https://www.stjuderuns.org
• Quincy St. Jude Run: https://www.facebook.com/quincystjuderun
• Hannibal St. Jude Run: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064621722129