St. Jude Hero Registration Opens for 25th Annual St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 1, 2026--

St. Jude Hero ® registration opens today for the 25 th anniversary of St. Jude Memphis Marathon ® Weekend presented by Juice Plus+, inviting runners across the country to go the distance for a cause. By committing to fundraise for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ®, Heroes secure early race entry while helping advance the institution’s lifesaving mission: Finding cures. Saving children. ®

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Each year, thousands of participants choose to become St. Jude Heroes, inviting friends, family and their communities to give as they train for one of the race weekend’s distances: the marathon, half marathon, 10K or 5K. Their fundraising supports research and discoveries that can help the more than 400,000 children around the world who develop cancer each year.

Since its start in 2002, St. Jude Memphis Marathon ® Weekend has grown into the largest single-day fundraising event for St. Jude, bringing together participants representing all 50 states and countries around the world to run for the families of St. Jude.

Across more than two decades, runners and supporters have helped raise nearly $170 million to support the work of St. Jude, turning race weekend into a powerful celebration of courage, community and hope. For many runners, becoming a St. Jude Hero transforms race training into a personal mission.

“What makes this event so special is the community that comes together around the mission of St. Jude,” said Mike Soileau of Rayne, Louisiana, co-founder of Team FUNraisers for St. Jude. “When people choose to fundraise, they’re not just training for a race, they’re helping give hope to families faced with a life-threatening diagnosis.”

Funds raised through the St. Jude Heroes program help ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.

“As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, we’re calling on St. Jude Heroes, partners, volunteers, and participants everywhere to make this year unforgettable,” said Ike Anand, President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude. “Becoming a St. Jude Hero is a commitment to families who are facing some of the toughest moments imaginable. Every mile and every dollar raised helps power research and treatment that gives more children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases the chance to survive and thrive.”

St. Jude Memphis Marathon ® Weekend brings together more than 22,000 runners, volunteers, and supporters each year, transforming downtown Memphis into a celebration of perseverance and generosity in support of the St. Jude mission.

Race weekend is Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, with thousands expected to participate. Become a St. Jude Hero by visiting StJude.org/Marathon.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ®

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children. ® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80% in the U.S., and it won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.

St. Jude Hero® registration opens today for the 25th anniversary of St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend presented by Juice Plus+, inviting runners across the country to go the distance for a cause. By committing to fundraise for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. ALSAC Photography/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Hero® registration opens today for the 25th anniversary of St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend presented by Juice Plus+, inviting runners across the country to go the distance for a cause. By committing to fundraise for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. ALSAC Photography/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Hero® registration opens today for the 25th anniversary of St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend presented by Juice Plus+, inviting runners across the country to go the distance for a cause. By committing to fundraise for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. ALSAC Photography/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Hero® registration opens today for the 25th anniversary of St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend presented by Juice Plus+, inviting runners across the country to go the distance for a cause. By committing to fundraise for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. ALSAC Photography/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Hero® registration opens today for the 25th anniversary of St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend presented by Juice Plus+, inviting runners across the country to go the distance for a cause. By committing to fundraise for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. ALSAC Photography/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Andrew Painter hopped off the mound in excitement in the fifth inning after his 97.2 mph fastball got James Wood to strike out for a second time.

Phillies fans — some groups called themselves Andrew's Painters, others Painter's Painters — waved paintbrushes and erupted in cheers with each strikeout for the rookie pitcher.

Painter delivered a masterpiece in his major league debut.

The 22-year-old Painter — considered to have one of the top arms in any level of baseball — tossed four-hit ball and struck out eight over 5 1/3 innings Tuesday in the Phillies' 3-2 win against the Washington Nationals. Painter tipped his cap to the cheering crowd of 40,709 fans as he left the mound in the sixth after he allowed a one-out single to C.J. Abrams.

“It was awesome,” Painter said. “Crowd showed up tonight. Just kind of soaked all of it. I don't think I could have drawn it up much better.”

He struck out the side in the fifth, walked one and allowed a run when Abrams scored on a run-scoring single by Daylen Lile off reliever Tanner Banks.

Painter wanted to stay in the game and at least finish the inning. Phillies manager Rob Thomson wasn't going to push the right-hander almost 1,000 days since his big league path was elongated by Tommy John surgery.

Thomson asked Painter on the mound visit if he enjoyed his first game.

“He shook his head no,” Thomson said with a laugh. “Then he figured out what I said and shook his head yes.”

Painter received a rousing ovation as he made the long walk from the bullpen to the dugout before the game and kept the fans on their feet when he struck out Wood on a nasty 12-6 curveball to open the game. Painter kept the Nationals flailing at breaking balls and swinging over high hard stuff the rest of the game.

Painter mixed curves, sweepers and sliders with a fastball that nearly touched 100 mph and flashed every bit of greatness that has been predicted of him since he was the 13th overall pick in the 2021 amateur draft and signed for a $3.9 million bonus.

Painter sprinted through Philadelphia’s system in 2022, going 6-2 with a 1.48 ERA in 26 appearances spread across two Class A teams and Double-A Reading.

He hurt his elbow during spring training in 2023 and had Tommy John surgery later that year.

The 6-foot-7 right-hander emerged the top candidate to win the Phillies’ fifth starter job as he attempted to crack the rotation before his 20th birthday. Instead, the injury set him back at least two seasons, and he went 5-8 with a 5.26 ERA during two minor league stops last season.

He’s been deemed good to go and joins a stout rotation that this season will include Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo.

“We've been waiting a while for this,” Thomson said. “So have our players.”

The two-time reigning NL East champion Phillies gave him needed run support with solo home runs from Kyle Schwarber and Adolis Garcia. Painter left with the Phillies leading 3-0.

“He didn't seem fazed by anything out there," Schwarber said. “That was pretty cool. I mean, even before the game, there's no pacing, no nothing. Just felt like he was mentally prepared for what he was about to do. That's impressive.”

The first outing sure seemed a like preview for even more impressive starts over his career.

“I felt like I was in control of the pace of the game,” Painter said.

Considered the organization's top pitching prospect since Cole Hamels, Painter entered the season ranked No. 26 among all prospects in baseball. Painter gave up seven hits and struck out eight in 11 2/3 innings in spring training this year.

“If we can keep him healthy, this guy's going to be really good for a long time,” Thomson said. “He's going to have a really great career. He's one of those upper-echelon guys. He's got the combination of power and command. The future is bright for him.”

Painter said every part of his game felt in sync, from pregame warmups to keeping his emotions in check while pitching in front of about 40 friends and family in his ticket group. He changed from his No. 24 jersey into a Phillies hoodie and shorts and jogged back onto the field after the final out for photos and hugs with his parents, former coaches and everyone who made the trip.

That included a kiss with his fiancée.

Painter took a knee before he ever threw a regular-season pitch. He posted proposal photos on Instagram in March with his girlfriend, Shelby.

What's more nerve-wracking, proposing or taking the mound?

“I'm not sure,” Painter said with a laugh. “We'll revisit that.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson, second from left, releases pitcher Andrew Painter, center, during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter greets teammates during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Philadelphia Phillies' Andrew Painter pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Philadelphia Phillies fans that call themselves "Painter's Painters" pose for a photo as they cheer on rookie Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter during his MLB debut in a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Dan Gelston)

Philadelphia Phillies' Andrew Painter pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Philadelphia Phillies' Andrew Painter pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)