Give thanks. Walk.™ Participants Team Up to Fight Cancer - One Step at a Time

Third annual national walk to be held in more than 60 cities nationwide benefiting St. Jude

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To help kick off the season of giving, the third annual Give thanks. Walk.™ will be held Saturday, November 20, in more than 60 cities nationwide including Los Angeles, New York City, Houston, Washington, D.C. and Chicago. All events benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, the nation's top children's cancer hospital.

Held in shopping malls, community parks, zoos and sports arenas, the Give thanks. Walk. events are designed to be a fun, fitness activity for the entire family. As participants complete the 5k walk, they will be cheered on by volunteers and supporters of St. Jude.

The events will also raise awareness and funds for St. Jude. While registration is free, participants can ask friends and family members to sponsor them with a donation to the hospital. Registrants who raise a minimum of $35 will receive an official Give thanks. Walk. t-shirt.

"In two years, the Give thanks. Walk. program has raised more than $1.3 million for St. Jude," said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. "Families can usher in the holiday season by walking to benefit St. Jude and joining our fight against childhood cancer and other deadly diseases."

Frank Fennell, who participated in the 2009 Atlanta Give thanks. Walk., understands the importance of raising funds in support of St. Jude. "As a life-long donor to St. Jude, this event gives me an opportunity to share my passion with my friends and family," said Fennell. "We are blessed and fortunate and feel it's our obligation to help the children of St. Jude whenever possible."

The Give thanks. Walk. events will help launch the seventh annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving® campaign, which encourages consumers to "Give thanks for the healthy kids in your life, and give to those who are not." National sponsors for the Give thanks. Walk. are New York & Company, Brooks Brothers, Window World, AutoTrader.com and Breitling. To view the complete list of participating cities nationwide and for more information, visit www.givethankswalk.org.

About St. Jude

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family's inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. In 2010, St. Jude was ranked the most trusted charity in the nation in a public survey conducted by Harris Interactive, a highly respected international polling and research firm. St. Jude was also named the nation's top children's cancer hospital in the 2010-11 Best Children's Hospitals rankings published by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, go to www.stjude.org  and follow St. Jude on www.facebook.com/stjude and www.twitter.com/stjude.

About Thanks and Giving

The St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Thanks and Giving campaign is an unprecedented union of celebrities, media, retail and corporate partners that asks consumers to "Give thanks for the healthy kids in your life, and give to those who are not."  Thanks and Giving was created in 2004 by Marlo Thomas and her siblings Terre and Tony Thomas, children of St. Jude founder Danny Thomas.  Funds raised by the campaign support the lifesaving work of St. Jude – to find cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.  In the months of November and December, consumers nationwide are asked to shop with companies that display the Thanks and Giving magnifying glass and add a donation at the register or purchase specialty items that benefit St. Jude; donate online at www.stjude.org, where a complete list of fundraising partners is available; or call 1-800-4STJUDE.

SOURCE St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital