Hi! Calling all heroes!!

I am beyond thrilled to share that I have been given the distinct honor to represent St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in this year’s 127th running of the prestigious Boston Marathon!

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital means so darn much to me, as I have been moved by their generosity and their commitment to helping fuel life- saving research, and their philosophy of providing world class treatment FOR FREE to any and all families with children that are battling cancer.

I’ve chosen to do my part by having completed 7 previous marathons as a St. Jude Hero, and have committed thousands of hours and consecutive years of training and physical determination, through the good and the bad, with one purpose in mind: to get out there and wear that jersey for St. Jude when it matters, and to show my support by bringing together those I know along with our donations to this wonderful organization.

My support for this organization is relentless. I’ve ran through countless injuries, many of which have come just weeks before a major race (fractured tibia, major ankle sprain, broken knee cap, major meniscus tear- just to name a few) and each time my only question and concern has been, “how long will this take to get back going because I have something I need to do.” The doctors typically respond with something like, “uh, you have a broken leg, you can’t even walk for 12 weeks let alone race a marathon in the next 3.” My response is then usually, “sorry doc, that’s not good enough, those kids and families don’t have a choice to sit this one out, or to wait, so neither do I, so how do we get this done?”

And for those of you who know me, I always get the job done. I have never backed off a single race or fundraising goal, and I’m not about to start now, and all I ask is for you to come along with me. I need your help and so do these families.

It’s as simple as this:

***No parent needs to worry about whether they pay for their mortgage or their car payment or anything else when they hear their child has cancer.

***No parent needs that kind of stress or worry when they are facing the unimaginable.

I’m no hero by running 26 or 50 or 100 miles, but those of you who donate certainly are.

You’re the hero we all need because you can make that terrible day a better one; you can change the narrative for millions of people by helping solve cancer through St. Jude research; you’re the hero for opening your heart by saying no one needs to shed another tear today and that you’re not alone!! We stand together in this fight and I need you here standing by me too.

As an incentive for anyone who decides to donate $100 or more I’ll be sending a personalized item to thank you.

As a bonus incentive too for anyone who donates $500 or more, I will write your name or a name of your choice (needs to be appropriate too— :)) on my St. Jude shirt for race day. I hope I can fill the shirt with tons of names.

For any donation of $1000 or more I’m giving something even more special- for each of these donations I plan to dedicate one of my specific miles (only 26 of these- first come first served) to you and you’ll receive some St. Jude and Boston Marathon swag from the race, along with a dedicated Teddy bear/doll that I will donate in your name (along with a personalized message too if you want to send something) and hand deliver these myself to a child at the hospital in Memphis following the race.

So please open your hearts and share this too with everyone you know. My minimum to raise is $10,000, but my goal is to double or triple this. I know we can do it, but only together!!!

Much Love! Jared