2/28/2020

Riggs Distler Supports St. Jude 

Contributed by Kasey, Fleet Manager

For those who may not be familiar, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Their purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.

Families never receive a bill from St. Jude. They pay for treatment, travel, housing and food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. The daily operating cost of St. Jude is $2.2 million; approximately 75% of those costs are covered by public contributions. Many of those donations come from events like the Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer, which Riggs Distler participated in last fall.

For our first year participating, our team made an enormous impact. As a result, Nicole and I, as team captains for our walk and co-chairs of the Phila. St. Jude Walk/Run Fundraising Committee, were invited to the Volunteer Leadership Conference in Memphis, TN. We didn’t know going into the conference, but Philadelphia’s 2019 Walk was the 15th most impactful in the country! This is incredible on its own, but even more rewarding is the fact that Riggs Distler was the 2nd largest fundraiser in our regional walk, having raised over $15,000.00 in just a few short weeks!

While in Memphis, Nicole and I toured the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Target House. It was incredible to see where those dollars actually go. The hospital is state-of-the art and undergoing many expansions to treat even more children. Instead of being depressing, the hospital and staff go out of their way to make it a happy space: RadioFlyer wagons are often used to transport kids instead of wheelchairs, the halls and rooms are bright and colorful, there is a school in the basement so no children get behind on their studies, beautiful patient artworks are displayed throughout (some very funny), and so much more.

With your help, we can’t wait to make an even greater impact in 2020. We have registered as a multi-market team, so all of our employees can participate, whether at their local walk or virtually (more information on that as we get closer to September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month). We hope you, your friends, and family will join us in supporting this incredible organization.