Danny Thomas Celebrity-Am Brings Stars Together to Support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 14, 2026--

The 2026 Danny Thomas Celebrity-Am, held Aug. 13 during FedEx St. Jude Championship week, welcomed St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ® patients and families who joined athletes, entertainers, influencers and community leaders for a day of golf and philanthropy in support of the lifesaving mission of St. Jude.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260814048981/en/

The event brought together a diverse group of celebrities from the worlds of sports, entertainment, music and digital media, all united by a shared commitment to helping ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food so they can focus on helping their child live.

Celebrity teams finishing at the top of the leaderboard included athlete Alexis Belton in first place, followed by teams led by NBA legend/broadcaster Brevin Knight and actor/comedian Katt Williams in second and third place, respectively.

"The Danny Thomas Celebrity-Am is a meaningful celebration of the compassion and generosity that have fueled the St. Jude mission for generations," said Ike Anand, president and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "We are grateful to the athletes, entertainers, influencers and community leaders who joined us in support of St. Jude and helped carry forward Danny Thomas' vision that no child should die in the dawn of life. Their advocacy helps raise awareness, inspire supporters, and advance the research and treatment that give children around the world a better chance to survive and thrive."

The presence of Tony Thomas, son of St. Jude founder Danny Thomas, underscored the enduring legacy of the event and the continued impact of the mission his father established more than six decades ago.

Throughout the week, celebrity participants spent time learning firsthand about the St. Jude mission, including meeting with patients and families, touring the St. Jude campus, and hearing stories of hope and resilience. These experiences helped reinforce the importance of raising awareness and support for children facing cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

The event featured returning supporters and first-time participants from across sports, entertainment and digital media, including:

The Memphis PGA TOUR stop has helped generate critical support for St. Jude families for more than five decades through the longstanding partnership between St. Jude, FedEx and the PGA TOUR.

About 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%, 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.

(Memphis, Tenn.) St. Jude patient Brayden shares a special moment with NBA Athlete Luke Kennard during the 2026 Danny Thomas Celebrity-Am, Aug. 13, 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee. Events throughout FedEx St. Jude Championship week share the message of hope while connecting golf fans across the world to the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Finding cures. Saving children.®

(Memphis, Tenn.) St. Jude patient Robby conducts practice swings during the 2026 Danny Thomas Celebrity-Am, Aug. 13, 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee. Events throughout FedEx St. Jude Championship week share the message of hope while connecting golf fans across the world to the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Finding cures. Saving children.®

(Memphis, Tenn.) St. Jude patient Brinley during the 2026 Danny Thomas Celebrity-Am, Aug. 13, 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee. Events throughout FedEx St. Jude Championship week share the message of hope while connecting golf fans across the world to the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Finding cures. Saving children.®

(Memphis, Tenn.) St. Jude patient Luis Carlos shares a special moment with Katt Williams during the 2026 Danny Thomas Celebrity-Am, Aug. 13, 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee. Events throughout FedEx St. Jude Championship week share the message of hope while connecting golf fans across the world to the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Finding cures. Saving children.®

(Memphis, Tenn.) St. Jude patient Brinley shares a special moment with NBA Legend & Coach Penny Hardaway during the 2026 Danny Thomas Celebrity-Am, Aug. 13, 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee. Events throughout FedEx St. Jude Championship week share the message of hope while connecting golf fans across the world to the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Finding cures. Saving children.®

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Audrey Werro stormed to the 800-meter title by holding off Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson down the home straight at the European championships on Friday.

The Swiss star, who was given a spot in the final after falling in the semifinal a day earlier, finished in 1 minute, 54.81 seconds at Alexander Stadium.

Hodgkinson closed the gap down the stretch but Werro willed herself across the line for gold ahead of her British rival. Dutch star Femke Broeders-Bol took bronze.

Werro, sporting a small bandage on her right hip, took the lead in the first lap and never let up. Werro in late June ran the third-fastest women’s time ever: 1:53.80.

In one of Thursday's semifinal heats, Anais Bourgoin’s left hand made contact with Werro’s right foot and Werro tumbled on the last bend.

Hodgkinson had won the past two 800 titles at the European championships.

Swedish pole vaulter Armand “Mondo” Duplantis is hoping to break the world record — as a married man.

Duplantis, who tied the knot with Desiré Inglander in June, needed just one successful attempt at 5.60 meters to qualify for Sunday night’s final.

The world record is 6.31, which the Louisiana-born Duplantis vaulted in March. That was his 15th world record. He first broke it in 2020 and has eclipsed his mark by 1 centimeter every time since.

The two-time reigning Olympic champion looked fully recovered from a thigh issue that forced him to stop competing at the London Diamond League meet one month ago.

“I’ve worked really hard the past few weeks to try and make sure I am ready for this competition, so I feel good out there. I feel hopeful and confident for Sunday,” he said. "The jump was clean, good. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Now it’s just about going up there and doing what I normally do in the final on Sunday."

After his jump, the world record holder signed autographs and shook hands with fans. Organizers sold special ‘Mondo’ children’s tickets priced at 6.31 pounds — the figure representing his latest world record height — for Friday morning’s session.

Duplantis also revealed on Friday he usually keeps his wedding band “in between my laces (of) my spikes” while he competes.

He said his marriage proposal and wedding day were more nerve-wracking than vaulting himself into rarefied air going for a world record.

“When I attempt a world record, it's just like the cherry on top," he said. "I don’t really even get that nervous, it's more like I won the competition and whatever happens after that is really nice.”

Duplantis competes for his mother’s native Sweden and has won the past three European championship titles.

See full AP coverage of European sports here

Armand Duplantis of Sweden waves to the public after competing in the men's pole vault qualifying at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Morgan Harlow)

Armand Duplantis of Sweden makes an attempt in the men's pole vault qualifying at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Armand Duplantis of Sweden makes an attempt in the men's pole vault qualifying at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)