St. Jude Hero Registration Opens for 25th Annual St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend

Participants invited to be part of a milestone year while helping ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--St. Jude Hero^® registration opens today for the 25^th anniversary of St. Jude Memphis Marathon^® Weekend presented by Juice Plus+, inviting runners across the country to go the distance for a cause. By committing to fundraise for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital^®, Heroes secure early race entry while helping advance the institution’s lifesaving mission: Finding cures. Saving children.^®

Each year, thousands of participants choose to become St. Jude Heroes, inviting friends, family and their communities to give as they train for one of the race weekend’s distances: the marathon, half marathon, 10K or 5K. Their fundraising supports research and discoveries that can help the more than 400,000 children around the world who develop cancer each year.

Since its start in 2002, St. Jude Memphis Marathon^® Weekend has grown into the largest single-day fundraising event for St. Jude, bringing together participants representing all 50 states and countries around the world to run for the families of St. Jude.

Across more than two decades, runners and supporters have helped raise nearly $170 million to support the work of St. Jude, turning race weekend into a powerful celebration of courage, community and hope. For many runners, becoming a St. Jude Hero transforms race training into a personal mission.

“What makes this event so special is the community that comes together around the mission of St. Jude,” said Mike Soileau of Rayne, Louisiana, co-founder of Team FUNraisers for St. Jude. “When people choose to fundraise, they’re not just training for a race, they’re helping give hope to families faced with a life-threatening diagnosis.”

Funds raised through the St. Jude Heroes program help ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.

“As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, we’re calling on St. Jude Heroes, partners, volunteers, and participants everywhere to make this year unforgettable,” said Ike Anand, President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude. “Becoming a St. Jude Hero is a commitment to families who are facing some of the toughest moments imaginable. Every mile and every dollar raised helps power research and treatment that gives more children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases the chance to survive and thrive.”

St. Jude Memphis Marathon^® Weekend brings together more than 22,000 runners, volunteers, and supporters each year, transforming downtown Memphis into a celebration of perseverance and generosity in support of the St. Jude mission.

Race weekend is Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, with thousands expected to participate. Become a St. Jude Hero by visiting StJude.org/Marathon.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital^®

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.^® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80% in the U.S., and it won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.