Desert Oasis Clubs, including Key Club and HOSA, joined the Las Vegas community in Town Square to support the St. Jude Walk and Run. Journalist Lotoya Silmon, and Host for “98.7 The Bull,” MoJoe Roberts hosted the Saint Jude Walk and Run from 7 A.M. to 11 A.M. on Saturday, September 23, 2023.
HOSA President, Jessica Gutierrez-Piedra, mentioned, “We signed up for today’s event to promote research for St. Jude because cancer is a really big occurrence in children’s lives that shouldn’t be. We really want to be there for the volunteers that are running and spreading all that good positive energy.”
HOSA and Key Club weren’t the only organizations that attended the fundraiser. A facebook community called “GirlTrek” and a company named “DeAnjo LLC” had individuals as a part of their organization attend the event.
“Our company DeAnjo LLC is a big sponsor for Saint Jude. The owners of the company actually donated a raiders package as a side gift for what’s going on.” An attendee at the fundraiser, named Caroline Lyakona, continues, “we want to stop violent cancer. Children need to grow up and have the ability to be children.”
The top fundraisers of the year were Beverly Wang with $1,900 in third place, Tyrone Tucker with $1,935 in second place, and Evi Aki with $2,860 placing her in first place.
“You know at St. Jude, children and their families come first. That’s why no family ever receives a bill from St. Jude. Whether it comes to treatment or travel housing or food. They want the parents and the families to focus on the most important thing at hand and that is helping their child live.” Roberts explained.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital specializes in treating the toughest childhood cancers and pediatric diseases. Their motto is, “Finding cures. Saving children.” They share their research with the entire world. So, even though children may not be located near the Memphis Campus, those kids could still continue to benefit from the protocols developed in Memphis.
“The dismal numbers out there when St. Jude first opened its doors in 1962. The survival rate for childhood cancer was a dismal 20%. They have now jacked that number up to more than 80% because they have been diligent, year after year, doing what it takes to make sure they can find the treatments necessary and ultimately find a cure.” Lotoya Silmon states.
Not all countries have the opportunities and privileges we have here in the United States of America. Places like the Philippines are still trying to catch up. In fact only one of five children diagnosed with cancer, actually survive in other parts of the world. St. Jude is committed to really working on global research and helping individuals to the best of their abilities.
A little girl named Aspen was located in the Philippines when she was diagnosed with cancer. The doctors had never received a case like hers which was why they were unable to help her. When the doctors found out about the protocols at St. Jude, they saved her life. Although, two years later her cancer returned. At this time, St. Jude flew her to Memphis at the age of four. So, because of the research and knowledge St. Jude has, Aspen is now eight years old and healthy. St. Jude covered everything and without St. Jude Aspen’s mother would have gone bankrupt. Instead her mother is now in nursing school trying to provide that same type of care for other children.
Five years ago a young girl named Addy was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. Addy’s parents, Heather and Rob, spoke at the fundraising event and expressed their inspirational story with details on how St. Jude helped change the lives of their family.
“When they tell you that no families are below or pay for housing and airfare, we never had to pay a dime. All they want is for families to focus on getting your child better. So when you donate to St. Jude, we are living proof that your money goes where they say it goes, because of all of you. You guy’s make a difference and it’s the reason why Addy is standing here today. Thank you so much and thank you so much to St. Jude. We are so grateful.” Heather said.
St. Jude is still continues to help families all over the world and the research they have done has impacted families globally. You can find more information on their website, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org).
