At Rufty Homes, giving back to the community is a priority for every single one of our team members. We look for opportunities to support organizations with causes that are not only important to our staff members, but to our clients as well.
When one of our clients, Julianne Capps, approached us about joining the mission of St. Jude as a sponsor for the upcoming St. Jude Walk/Run Triangle event, we jumped at the chance to help spread the word about the important work that they are doing in the fight to end childhood cancer; a mission that is close to Julianne’s heart.
Julianne started volunteering with St. Jude around two and a half years ago, but her relationship with them goes back many years before that.
At the age of five, she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), a type of cancer that affects the white blood cells. According to St. Jude, ALL is the most common form of childhood cancer; about 3,000 children under the age of 20 are found to have ALL every year in the United States alone.
At the time of Julianne’s diagnosis, there was about a 50% survival rate for children with ALL. As resources were limited in her local medical offices, she was referred her to St. Jude, a decision that Julianne believes ultimately saved her life. She says, “Not only did they save me through medicine and great doctors, but they supported my family in financial ways as well. As an organization, St. Jude is very much focused on the whole family.”
This philosophy allows families to focus on what’s most important - making sure their children have everything they need to get healthy, without worrying about the financial implications that often accompany a cancer diagnosis.
During Julianne’s treatment, she and her family traveled from Greensboro to Memphis monthly. St. Jude arranged and covered the costs for her flights, lodging, and food, in addition to the medical care she received. This is standard for all of the families that St. Jude supports.
“I think most people assume that St. Jude covers the costs of medical treatments, but I don’t think many realize that they do so much more than that. Families are often living in Memphis for months at a time while their children receive treatment, and St. Jude covers their lodging, food, and more the entire time,” says Julianne.
Most importantly, St. Jude focuses on ending childhood cancer, not just for their patients, but for children around the world. Donations give St. Jude the ability to freely share their research around the world. Julianne explains, “Their goal is not to patent their findings and make money from them. They work with clinics and hospitals in their patients’ hometowns so that those patients can have as normal a life as possible and be surrounded by their support networks. Their ultimate goal is truly to help as many people as possible.”
Thanks to advances in medicine and generous donations to organizations like St. Jude, the survival rate for ALL is now around 94%.
Join us on September 28, 2019, at the St. Jude Walk/Run Triangle, as we help raise money for the kids and families of St. Jude. We’ll be sponsoring the onsite photo booth that’s full of fun props and signs so you can capture the memories you make as you support this important cause. We hope you’ll consider posting your photos to social media to help spread awareness about the work St. Jude is doing both for children in our community and around the world.
The Walk/Run is a family-friendly event, with music, snacks donated from local vendors, face painters, balloon artists, and more. Julianne remembers the fun her own children had at last year’s event, saying, “My kids were three and five at the time and they had a blast. They talked about it for weeks afterward! It’s a great opportunity to have fun with the whole family while supporting a cause that means a lot to so many people.”
It’s also a chance for the community to learn more about St. Jude and see the real impact they’ve made on people’s lives. Julianne believes that one of the most touching parts of the day is meeting and speaking with other cancer survivors that St. Jude has helped over the years. “I’ve seen firsthand the way that survivors can touch the community by sharing their stories. I’m delighted that Rufty Homes has allowed me to share my story and chosen to be a sponsor at the Walk/Run. Let’s go out there and end childhood cancer together!”
Register for the St. Jude Walk/Run Triangle here. You can also donate directly to St. Jude’s cause by visiting their website.
We can’t wait to see you out there on September 28!
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