NASHVILLE, TN — The St. Jude Research Hospital, located in Memphis, has again forged a continuous battle to fight cancer to support children and families fight. This past weekend, Rosetta Miller-Perry, The Tennessee Tribune publisher, and the late Darrell Freeman were honored at the event designed to raise funds for St. Jude.
This was the sixth year of the program and it consistently grows and touches the community to support this outstanding medical service. Parents with ill children pay no funds, because of fundraisers like the one in Nashville so they can focus on the health of their child wihtout worrying about money.
The event raised more than $84,000 for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Miller-Perry thanked St. Jude for the recognition and shared what we must do as a people to help the community and this dynamic medical facility. “We must learn to work together,” she said.
She lived in Memphis for a while as a government official. She was there when the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated and knows firsthand what it means to be denied and what it means to receive help.
The daughter of the late Darrell Freeman, Ebony Freeman accepted the award on behalf of her family. She spoke of his life, his drive and how he would appreciate being honored by St. Jude. “He was a great man and did so much for so many, and on behalf of our family, we appreciate this honor,” said Ebony. Freeman, was described by many as a self-made millionaire and worked to strengthen the community and loved his family.
To tell the story in reality, a mother and son, took the stage and told of their cancer journey. She said, “I would not have made it without St. Jude. Diagnosed with cancer as a high school freshman at 15, my son survived and is a graduating senior, all because of St. Jude.
The soul-stirring Birmingham native, Ruben Studdard, provided great entertainment for the occasion. Studdard rose to fame in 2003, when he won the second season of American Idol. He was indeed a show-stopper and of course took attendees back down memory lane with oldies and goodies and was proud to be a part of this St. Jude event.
St. Jude’s mission is to help children heal from cancer to live normal lives. Established in Memphis by the late actor Danny Thomas, and continued by his daughter Marlo Thomas, helping to be steeped in research to do the work to save children is what St. Jude is all about.
The children’s hospital leads the way so that the world understands treats and defeats of childhood cancer. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food. A leading children’s hospital, St. Jude treats the toughest childhood cancers and pediatric diseases. And there are many success stories that come from the research done because of the financial commitment made.
If you would like more information about St. Jude and their research, visit the website at StJude.org.
