PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – The 49th annual St. Jude Telethon is in the books with Central Illinoisans showing again how much they care for children battling cancer.
The telethon, broadcast Saturday on WEEK TV, raised $12,676‚046 for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, above last year’s record total of $12,134,722.
St. Jude Runs, including satellite runs throughout the area and the Memphis to Peoria run, raised $6,658,053, better than last year’s total of $6.5 million.
On its own, the 465-mile trek from Memphis to Peoria raised $1,910,236, up from $1.5 million last year, an increase of more than $400,000.
St. Jude Runs since they started 45 years ago soared above the $100 million. The total amount raised during that time is $101,314,809.
“$100 million isn’t the end. It’s a milestone on our journey to curing every child. Everywhere,” organizers said in a Facebook post. “We are beyond grateful for every dollar raised, every step taken, and every person who has helped make this moment possible. Thank you.”
The money raised during the telethon, the St. Jude Runs, and the many other activities help fund research, life-saving treatment, and ensures families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food.
(Reporting by Howard Packowitz, 25 News)
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