Western Refining has launched a Halloween campaign to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
In an effort to help fight the monster that is pediatric cancer, Western Refining and St. Jude have joined together to raise money through a Halloween themed fundraising campaign.
This year, parents of 16,000 children in the U.S. will hear the words: “Your child has cancer.” One in five of those children diagnosed with cancer won’t survive. To continue the fight against pediatric cancer, companies like Western Refining are selling pinups for $1 and $5 to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Halloween is one of the most anticipated holidays at St. Jude because patients and siblings of all ages look forward to wearing costumes and trick-or-treating at themed stations throughout the hospital. The fundraising efforts of partners like Western Refining are helping St. Jude patients celebrate these special moments.
During the month-long promotion, consumers who donate $1 or more will receive a Halloween-themed pinup that can be displayed at Western’s Giant retail store locations across Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Colorado to show their support. The donations help St. Jude patients like Brady, who at the tender age of four years old was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome stemming from monosomy seven. He would need a bone marrow transplant to survive. When Brady’s siblings Charlee and Bentley were tested for potential transplant matches, they were also diagnosed with monosomy seven. Their doctors in Florida referred the family to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
At St. Jude, Brady and his sister Charlee underwent bone marrow transplants. “I didn’t realize how 100% financially supported you are here,” said Brady’s mother. Programs such as the St. Jude Halloween Pinup promotion are important because the majority of St. Jude funding comes from individual contributors. 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.
Today, Brady and his sister return to St. Jude every six months for their regular check-up appointments. He will be starting first grade this fall and likes to dress up as a superhero every chance that he gets.
“Every year, our customers and employees generously support the St. Jude Halloween pinup promotion. The stores look forward to the opportunity to assist with raising donations for the children of St. Jude, and the customers respond amazingly well, increasing our donations year-over-year for the past 15 years,” said R.C. Sprouse, vice president, Retail for Western Refining. “I am expecting another banner year for our stores in support of St. Jude Children’s Hospital and the children.”
