Fighting Childhood Illness in Illinois and Beyond

The 618 Crew for St. Jude is a group of friends whose mission is to unite communities across Illinois in support of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Through our fundraising events, we raise funds and awareness to ensure that no family ever pays for treatment, travel, housing, or food while their child is being cared for. Every dollar we raise brings us closer to a world where no child is held back by cancer or other life-threatening diseases. Together, we ride, play, and give for a future where every child can grow up healthy and strong.

Finding Cures. Saving Children.

Learn about St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, located in Memphis, Tennessee, is one of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centers. Its mission is to find cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.

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St. Jude was founded by entertainer Danny Thomas and opened February 4, 1962. St. Jude is supported primarily by donations raised by its national fundraising and awareness organization, ALSAC, which was established by Danny expressly for the purpose of funding St. Jude. The hospital also receives assistance from federal grants (mainly through the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute), insurance and investments.

It is estimated that more than 400,000 children worldwide develop cancer each year, and nearly half of them are never diagnosed. The ambitious goal of St. Jude Global is to reduce disparities and improve access to, and quality of, care for children with cancer worldwide. In 2018, St. Jude became the first and only World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Childhood Cancer. St. Jude is serving as an implementation partner for the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, which has a goal to raise the survival rate of six common childhood cancers to 60% by 2030 around the world.

3D render of a world map. Elements of this image furnished by NASA.

St. Jude has treated children from all 50 states and from around the world. About 8,600 patients are seen at St. Jude annually, most of whom are treated on a continuing outpatient basis and are part of ongoing research programs. The hospital has 77 beds for patients requiring hospitalization during treatment. Most of our patients are treated as outpatients and stay in one of our housing facilities with rooms specifically designed and managed by us for families of children with cancer and other diseases. In addition, St. Jude also treats patients at its eight affiliate clinics.

Shot of a young scientist conducting medical research on blood in a laboratory

Research efforts are directed at understanding the molecular, genetic and chemical bases of catastrophic diseases in children; identifying cures for such diseases; and promoting their prevention. Research is focused specifically on cancers, some acquired and inherited immunodeficiencies, sickle cell disease, infectious diseases, neurological diseases and genetic disorders.