WASHINGTON, Ill. – Over 2,500 runners are making the trek to Peoria this week…raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
Chelsea Williams is the coordinator of Washington’s satellite run, with a team of 210 runners.
Her reasons for running the last 9 years are very personal. Her son Aiden was diagnosed with Leukemia back in 2018.
She talks about what it feels like when the team is about to cross the finish line.
“It’s so fulfilling, right? Like that last half mile (into Peoria). It’s amazing! You may be exhausted and tired, but we know why we’re doing it, and for the bigger purpose. Like I tell everybody, it’s the best day ever…you’ve got to experience it,” Williams says.
Her son Aiden is healthy and is turning 16 soon, and will be a sophomore in high school this year.
“He’s strong, healthy and amazing. His check ups are good, and praise God because I know there was a time when I know it felt so dark. It’s your worst nightmare to hear those words that your child has cancer, but St. Jude and those nurses and doctors…it’s like people say, it’s a place of hope…it is,” Williams says.
Washington’s St. Jude Run will start their first leg to Peoria around 8:30 Saturday morning.
The St. Jude Memphis to Peoria runners will run 465 miles back home, then cross the Bob Michel Bridge with all the satellite runners Saturday afternoon ahead of the St. Jude Telethon on WEEK-TV.
To learn more about St. Jude Runs, or how you can contribute, click HERE.
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