St. Jude Memphis Marathon kicks off with health and wellness expo

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - For the 24th year, thousands gathered in Memphis for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon, with 4,000 volunteers helping kick off the Health and Wellness expo.

“It feels like the passion is contagious. There is a lot of energy here, this whole community comes together like nothing ever — this is a special, special weekend for us at St. Jude, it’s a special weekend and it all starts right here,” said Ike Anand, president and CEO of ALSAC.

The marathon serves as the biggest way the community supports children facing cancer.

Anand walked through the day’s events, from packet pickup to vendors as race preparation continued. The expo featured multiple stations including packet pickup, T-shirt stops, clear bag distribution for race day, the St. Jude swag area and various vendors.

“When you have so many participants coming in, sometimes somebody has a special need ... sometimes forgot something, they forgot their app or maybe they made a mistake at registration and their name’s spelled wrong ... whatever the problem is they can come straight to the race solutions and we have people behind the desks ready to resolve those issues,” Anand said.

Volunteers expressed their commitment to the cause.

“I feel like it’s bigger than all of us, honestly because, it’s all about the kids, it’s about the children,” said Sade Bradley, a volunteer.

“I’m so for the youth, every baby, every infant is being supported so it’s just a support system for the ones that are you know fighting cancer and illness — and their families,” Bradley said.

Anand emphasized the event’s broader significance beyond the race itself.

“It’s more than a race, it’s a community coming together ... and this is the kinda stuff that helps create memories for that community. They take this with them, they share it with their friends and families, they show their support for the mission so this is really special for us,” he said.

For some participants like Leticia Ramirez, the race holds deeper meaning. Her daughter was treated at St. Jude from 2009-2014.

“I don’t think people understand that ... the necessity of keeping the doors open and you won’t know it until you need the doors open for you,” Ramirez said.

“Unfortunately she did end up passing away in 2014 but we got more than originally thought we would get with our original hospital in Texas, and now we live in here because my husband works at the hospital he got out of the navy and he works here and we’ve been running it ever since,” she said.

Ramirez said she remains grateful for the care her family received.

“I don’t have to know you to know — for you to know, that I had 5 years with my daughter because of someone else,” she said.

Participants who did not pick up their packets have until 8 p.m. Friday to do so. No packet pickup will be available on race day.

The first race starts at 7 a.m. Saturday. Road closures begin at 6 a.m. Friday.

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