St. Jude runners prepare

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Runners across the area are preparing for the annual St. Jude run, which will take place across the state Saturday.

The St. Jude Memphis to Peoria Run began with the idea of a way to raise money for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Runners would drive to the hospital in Memphis and then run back, relay-style, to the St. Jude Midwest Affiliate in Peoria. Each year since 1982, runners have paid for the honor to participate in this unique, 465-mile event that has raised over $15.6 million for St. Jude kids.

Because not everyone can participate in the more rigorous Memphis to Peoria Run, auxiliary runs were started from communities throughout Illinois. Runners from cities like Chicago, Macomb, Bloomington/Normal, Decatur, LaSalle/Peru, Springfield, Lincoln, Champaign/Urbana, Galesburg, Canton, Dunlap, Chillicothe, Elmwood, Macomb, Pekin, Quincy, Richwoods High School, St. Louis and the Tri-County send runners to Peoria to meet the Memphis to Peoria Runners and help kick off the St. Jude Telethon held in Peoria each year in August.

In 1985, Chris Christian and the Starved Rock Runners Club, began the 66-mile LaSalle/Peru to Peoria leg of the race. In 2007, the group raised $58,000 for the hospital.

This year’s run will take place Saturday, beginning at the Peru Mall, then heading into Bureau County and Spring Valley before heading south into Putnam County over the Route 89 bridge. Vehicles accompany the runners, both to transport volunteers who collect money as the group runs past, and to give the runners a chance to catch their breath.