Central Illinois runners relay to Peoria for children’s hospital

MONTICELLO, Ill. (WCIA) — People from all across the Midwest laced up their shoes and ran to Peoria last week.

The annual event raises money and awareness for the Children’s Hospital. One of 32 groups in Illinois began their leg of the race on Friday in Monticello.

They ran relay-style to Peoria, which is home to the Midwest St. Jude Affiliate Clinic. Running groups everywhere from Memphis to Monticello finished their journey at the Peoria Civic Center on Saturday.

Shannon Neighbors, the Monticello St. Jude Coordinator, said the annual event wants to raise awareness and funds.

“Honestly, there’s a lot of work, a lot of running, a lot of fundraising — but when we get to Peoria, we see kids that are survivors and families of St. Jude kids, and they are cheering and thanking us and all that stuff. So, once we get into Peoria, that is for sure the reason why we all do this.”

Fundraising began by these runners over the last couple of months. The Champaign group raised around $120,000 over the last year.

“You just want to do whatever you can,” said Vanessa Parisi, the Champaign St. Jude Coordinator. “I was lucky enough to have children who didn’t need St. Jude. But in the event that I would’ve, I would’ve loved to have people who stepped up to help, as well.”

The estimated total from every group is over $5 million.

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