it’s that time of year again when i get to recap my favorite weekend. the weekend when so many of my best friends descend on memphis, the weekend we all get to run/walk for st jude, the weekend that both energizes and exhausts me in equal measure.

if you’ve been around for a while you know this was my 11th year raising money as a st jude hero. if you’re new here, st jude heroes commit to raising money to go toward the work st jude does to cure childhood cancers and other catastrophic diseases while never charging families for treatment, travel, lodging or food. st jude memphis marathon weekend is the biggest single-day fundraiser for the hospital each year, with participants lining up for a 5k, 10k, half marathon, or full marathon. this was my 11th year participating and my mother’s 4th.

this year my family and friends donated $4,620, and heroes collectively raised over $16 million! those are records both for me and for marathon weekend, and in a year when prices were high and people were struggling i’m always honored when someone chooses to put their money toward this endeavor.

this year we also had chrystal back walking with us, and sarah ran her first full marathon, so there was lots to celebrate. we heard some moving stories at the pasta party, i cried walking through campus when i spotted a young girl with a sign that said “because of you i’m a survivor”, and we happened to run into a favorite former patient on saturday night as well. we availed ourselves of the free massages in the hospitality lounge, we caught up with lots of friends at slider inn on saturday night, and dillard delivered soul burgers to our hotel room when sarah and i didn’t have the energy to get there ourselves.

i got back to nyc on tuesday and spent all of wednesday in bed / on the couch and am still building my energy back up, but it was all worth it and i can’t wait to do it again next year. 2025 will be my mother’s 5th year walking the 5k, and while she claims it might be her last we all know better than to bet against mama swami.

thank you to everyone who donated, who participated, who volunteered, who touched this event in any way. it’s a huge undertaking, and every year it is spectacular.

xx

st jude marathon weekends of year’s past: 2023 // 2022 // 2021 // 2020 // 2019 // 2016 // 2015 // 2014