August 2018 Articles

Archives by Months

Spiritual Corner: Running for a Cause, Running for a Cure

Spiritual Corner: Running for a Cause Running for a Cure Hello, everyone. My husband, Randy, and I have signed up for our first official half-marathon race. We have only ran 5k races so far, but have always wanted to run a half-marathon. We enjoy spending time together (and with our dogs) through running. When choosing a half-marathon to sign up for, we wanted to run one that was special and that was for a good cause. We decided on the St. Jude half-marathon in Memphis, Tennessee on December 1st. Whenever we signed up to run the St. Jude half-marathon, we also signed up to fundraise $1,200 for this wonderful organization by our race date. We are excited to support this great cause and know that it will help to push us in our training and during the actual race. I want to take a minute now to just give you a little background about St. Jude. St. Jude is a Children’s Research Hospital. It was founded by Danny Thomas on February 4, 1962. At a young age, Danny Thomas sought guidance from St. Jude Thaddeus (the patron saint of hopeless causes) as to what path he should take in his life. Danny vowed to build a shrine in St. Jude’s name if he would help him. Success followed Danny’s plea and so soon after, he set about fulfilling his promise to St. Jude and that is how St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was born. St. Jude has spent years finding cures and saving the lives of children. The research that St. Jude does has helped to push the survival rate for children with cancer from 20% in 1962 to more than 80% today. St. Jude also does not discriminate against any child based on their race, color, creed, or their family’s ability to pay. I have personally heard from people who have dealt with St. Jude about how accommodating they are to families in need. All of these positive traits of St. Jude has helped them to become one of the world’s premier pediatric research institutions. I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for children; that’s a big reason why I became a teacher. This passion for children is a big part of what led Randy and I to choose the St. Jude half-marathon as our first half-marathon race. We know the good things that St. Jude does for children all over the world who are struggling with something that they should never have to struggle with. I haven’t yet experienced what it feels like to be a mother, but I can only imagine the joy it will bring me. Then I think of how terrible it must be to be a mother whose child has been diagnosed with cancer. I cannot imagine the pain that the child’s parents would feel—feeling helpless and hurting so badly for their child. St. Jude is an answer to many parents’ prayers whenever it comes to caring for and treating their children who have been diagnosed with cancer. This organization is so worthy of support, for support for St. Jude is support for these hurting children. “Children are a gift from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward”. --Psalm 127:3 If any of you would like to help Randy and I reach our goal of fundraising $1,200 for St. Jude, you may donate in the following ways: Go to this link and donate on one of our fundraising websites: http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/Heroes/Heroes?px=5119331&pg=personal&fr_id=88563 or Mail a check or cash to: Randy and Dana Alexander 149 Van Bennett. Rd. Spearsville, LA 71277 *Checks can be made out to Dana Alexander and I can deposit them and then donate the money online. They can also be made out to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and I can mail them into St. Jude as part of our fundraising commitment. You can do whichever is better for you.* Source: www.stjude.org Thank y’all so very much! --Dana Alexander