Just under a week ago, on this past Friday, I played a part in raising over$130,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
On the nearly 12-hour livestream, we participated in a series of ridiculoushijinks. We smashed a ridiculous “gaming” PC. We played Jenga. We ran two Relayrelay races. I sat in on an episode of Robot or Not. A championwas crowned belted for one of our co-founders. Fun was had.
But more than anything else, money was raised.
I’ve discussed St. Jude before here on my blog, and everything I saidthen remains true today. St. Jude is a collection of amazing humans, whosesingular goal is beyond reproach:
No child should die in the dawn of life.
Compared to the awe-inspiring work that the St. Jude staff does, our intensebut short-lived twelve hour marathon was… well… nothing. But it makes myheart incredibly happy to try to raise money for such a worthwhile organization.
During my time at St. Jude last week, I got to sit in on a presentation by threeSt. Jude doctors, each discussing some of the work that they’ve done at St. Jude.Some of the quotes from these doctors are really incredible:
I wasn’t happy because [a six-year treatment] took too long
We’re not happy with a 75% success rate
We’re curing kids at a price; [how can we make treatment gentler]?
We’ve proved [a revolutionary new treatment] can work; now we need to make it work
We’re [working to] end the diagnostic odyssey
It’s not just the clinicians and researchers at St. Jude making a difference,though. There was an entire army of ALSAC employees working tirelesslybehind the scenes to make the Podcastathon run without a hitch. To everyonewe worked with, but especially Jill, Jolie, and Ricky, your efforts are noticed,and they’re appreciated. ?
I’m so honored I was asked to participate this year, and I’m doubly pleasedthat we figured out a way to rope Erin into the festivities. ? It isa rare privilege to be able to do something that is so noble, and alsohave fun doing it. It’s a double bonus to be able to do all this with someof your closest friends.
As I write this, it’s still September, which means Relay’s campaignis still live. If you have even a couple dollars extra, I strongly encourageyou to throw them St. Jude’s way.
Let’s cure childhood cancer… together.
