SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Brittany Smallberger, a Peoria native, has been running with Springfield’s St. Jude Satellite Run for 11 years.
Starting at 4 a.m. on Saturday, they’ll log 74 miles as they run to Peoria. She says that’s really nothing to be afraid of.
“You don’t have to be a marathon runner to run it. A lot of our legs are a mile long, because really, it is a run…but it’s really about the fundraising first and foremost. So, I want anyone that loves St. Jude to be able to participate in it,” Smallberger says.
Brittany’s parents both ran the Memphis to Peoria Run for years, fueling her passion to join in.
“My dad was actually one of the first Memphis to Peoria runners, and he ran for 19 years. And, then my mom ran for 17 years. So, I was kind of born into it,” Smallberger says.
She says for most, once you run for St. Jude, you’ll be back…because it’s so rewarding.
For their 35th year, Springfield’s satellite run has a goal of raising $60,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Their team is 21 members strong.
The Memphis to Peoria Run will return to Peoria Saturday, just in time to meet up with the satellite runs, finishing together and walking across the Bob Michel Bridge.
All of the runners will then participate in the St. Jude Runner’s Parade at 5 p.m., followed by the St. Jude Telethon at the Peoria Civic Center starting at 6:30 on WEEK-TV.
To learn more about St. Jude Runs, or how you can contribute, click HERE.
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