MEMPHIS, Tenn., Aug. 26, 2019 – Today St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® and the National Black Marathoners Association (NBMA) announced a new partnership to benefit the hospital’s lifesaving mission: Finding cures. Saving children.®
Partnerships like the NBMA raise awareness and funds for the hospital to help ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.
The National Black Marathoners Association is the largest nonprofit organization of its kind in the country dedicated to encouraging African Americans and others to pursue a healthy lifestyle through distance running and walking.
Through this collaboration, the NBMA is an official partner of the St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend presented by Juice Plus+® in 2019 and 2020. The organization will further engage its members with the hospital’s mission by hosting its 16th NBMA Annual Summit in 2020 during the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend from Thursday, Dec. 3rd, through Saturday, Dec. 5th.
Over the years, many NBMA members have participated in St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend as St. Jude Heroes to raise funds and awareness for the hospital’s research and treatment of children with childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
One such St. Jude Hero is Kescia Muhammad. She credits St. Jude with saving the life of a family friend who received treatment there. Hearing about the hospital’s work, motivated her to run her first half and full marathons during previous St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekends.
“There’s nothing more gratifying than running through the St. Jude campus and actually seeing the patients and their families cheering you on,” said Muhammad. “I can’t wait for all of NBMA to experience the love.”
The NBMA will also support the hospital through the annual St. Jude Walk/Run in September. This year, the St. Jude Walk/Run will take place in 63 communities nationwide during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
For more information about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, visit stjude.org. To learn more about the National Black Marathoners Association, visit blackmarathoners.org.