MWU Hosts the Annual St. Jude Run to Peoria

Today marks the 11th year the Midwestern University Downers Grove Campus plays host as the kick-off site for the Chicago chapter of the annual St. Jude Children's Research Hospital runs. Each year, on the first Saturday in August, all the runs arrive together in Peoria at the St. Jude Clinic.

Midwestern University sponsors its space, logistical set-up. audio/visual needs, light refreshments for the kick-off celebration.

It's a team effort to make it happen; starting off with the Department of Safety and Security. The staff provides traffic details for nearly 20 RVs to manuever its way to the east side of campus. Our Media Resources staff provide an outdoor sound system with mic so the celebration is heard loud and clear.

We make sure there is plenty of coffee and lots of water; for when the days like today are hot and humid.

Each year, we have the runners welcomed by a member of the Administrative Team, this year Dr. Teresa Dombrowski, Dean of Student Services, provided the address.

Dr. Dombrowski thanked the crowd of 200 runners for their committment to the St. Jude mission and welcomed everyone to the Downers Grove Campus.

I've always joked about how I'd love to participate in the 160 mile relay run, however, I haven't received any takers that would join my team. Midwestern University has not had a team participate in almost four years.

What's going on? I challenge anyone reading this blog that is a runner, if you'd like to join the Team Midwestern, send me an email at apatto@midwestern.edu. Or perhaps, I should join Molly White, CCP Alum '08. She's the gal in the reflective vest.

Perhaps, next year I'll write the blog from a runner's perspective.