St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend – Cancelled Due To Weather Conditions

On December 6th I left my home at 3:30 a.m. headed for Memphis and into the mouth of the biggest winter storm of 2013.

By the time I arrived in Memphis, some time after 8 a.m., the temperature was 31 degrees and dropping quickly. I arrived at my hotel and was luckily allowed to check in.

My reason for visiting was to run the St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon for the 3rd year in a row. With help from family, friends and grateful 95.3 The Bear listeners I was able to sign up as a 'St. Jude Gold Hero' thanks to their help in raising over $2500.00! Plus I got my name on the St. Jude Marathon Pace Car!

95.3 The Bear midday personality Tracy Lynn and I spoke the Thursday before we were to leave for Memphis and she had already made the decision to cancel her hotel room and registration in the St. Jude Memphis 5K due to inclement weather. I was now flying solo and realized quickly that Tracy was not the only one who had decided to not chance the drive in. Attendance at the race expo was not as crowded as it had been in the past.

Each year, participants who sign up to raise money as a 'St. Jude Hero' are invited to the 'Hero Pasta Party' on the Friday night before the race where we enjoy a nice sit down, carb-filled meal, with guest speakers and an appearance by ALSAC CEO Rick Shadyac. This year, as most of us expected, Mr. Shadyac took the stage first to make the announcement we were all dreading.

The good news is, this year's cancelled event was the single largest fundraising event in St. Jude history raising an astonishing $8.2 million dollars! You and I were a part of that my friends.

So, thank you for all your help in making me a 'Gold Hero' this year and I wanted to let you know I'm moving my registration to the St. Jude Country Music Marathon in Nashville on April, 26, 2014! I'll get the chance to run and take a few steps toward ending childhood cancer for good!