St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend Hero Among Us Award winner Kent Stoneking reunited with St. Jude patient family

November 29, 2018 |

3 min read

The 17th annual St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend is underway and is anticipated to raise a record $11.2 million thanks to thousands of St. Jude supporters.

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The 17^th annual St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend is underway and is anticipated to raise a record $11.2 million thanks to thousands of St. Jude supporters. This year’s Hero Among Us Award winner, St. Jude Hero Kent Stoneking, was recognized today, Nov. 29, for his passion and commitment to sharing the St. Jude mission: Finding cures. Saving children.®

St. Jude Hero Kent Stoneking (left) and St. Jude patient Kael (right) share a moment after a surprise reunion.

Each year on race weekend, a St. Jude Hero, or a participant who fundraises while training for a fitness event, is recognized with the Hero Among Us Award for going the extra mile to support children battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases. ALSAC President and CEO Richard Shadyac Jr. surprised Stoneking by recognizing him as the award recipient, and invited two special guests to present him with the award: St. Jude patient Kael and his mom Ashley, who have been Stoneking’s inspiration for years.

Stoneking and St. Jude patient Kael, both amputees on the same leg, first met more than four years ago when Kael’s mom saw Kent at the St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend finish line. She wanted to show Kael that nothing is impossible, even with an amputation.

“Seeing Kael after four years was a surprise I never expected,” said Hero Among Us Award recipient Kent Stoneking. “Running a marathon is hard work, but Kael has given me the inspiration to keep running the extra mile to support St. Jude and its lifesaving mission.”

This will be Stoneking’s eighth year running as a St. Jude Hero in the event weekend. Since he began running as a St. Jude Hero, Stoneking has inspired many others to participate in the race as St. Jude Heroes, including his father, brother and three children.

“Kent Stoneking is the epitome of a hero to St. Jude patients like Kael, and it’s clear Kael is a hero for Stoneking,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “Watching their reunion makes the true spirit of St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend come to life, and I couldn’t be more honored to recognize Kent with the Hero Among Us Award.”

Since 2002, St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend has been Memphis’ premier marathon. Stoneking is one of 6,500 St. Jude Heroes running in the event weekend, which will bring in more than 26,000 participants this year. Supporters like these help ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all they should worry about is helping their child live.

Final race times for all participants will be available at stjude.org/marathon2018. Next year’s race will be held on Dec. 7, 2019.

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. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter and Instagram and subscribing to its YouTube channel.

(From left to right) Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, St. Jude Hero Kent Stoneking, patient Kael and his mom Ashley gather after recognizing Stoneking as the Hero Among Us Award winner.