Just under a week ago, on this past Friday, I played a part in raising over $130,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

On the nearly 12-hour livestream, we participated in a series of ridiculous hijinks. We smashed a ridiculous “gaming” PC. We played Jenga. We ran two Relay relay races. I sat in on an episode of Robot or Not. A champion was crowned belted for one of our co-founders. Fun was had.

But more than anything else, money was raised.

I’ve discussed St. Jude before here on my blog, and everything I said then remains true today. St. Jude is a collection of amazing humans, whose singular goal is beyond reproach:

No child should die in the dawn of life.

Compared to the awe-inspiring work that the St. Jude staff does, our intense but short-lived twelve hour marathon was… well… nothing. But it makes my heart incredibly happy to try to raise money for such a worthwhile organization.

During my time at St. Jude last week, I got to sit in on a presentation by three St. Jude doctors, each discussing some of the work that they’ve done at St. Jude. Some of the quotes from these doctors are really incredible:

I wasn’t happy because [a six-year treatment] took too long

We’re not happy with a 75% success rate

We’re curing kids at a price; [how can we make treatment gentler]?

We’ve proved [a revolutionary new treatment] can work; now we need to make it work

We’re [working to] end the diagnostic odyssey

It’s not just the clinicians and researchers at St. Jude making a difference, though. There was an entire army of ALSAC employees working tirelessly behind the scenes to make the Podcastathon run without a hitch. To everyone we worked with, but especially Jill, Jolie, and Ricky, your efforts are noticed, and they’re appreciated. 💙

I’m so honored I was asked to participate this year, and I’m doubly pleased that we figured out a way to rope Erin into the festivities. 🥰 It is a rare privilege to be able to do something that is so noble, and also have fun doing it. It’s a double bonus to be able to do all this with some of your closest friends.

As I write this, it’s still September, which means Relay’s campaign is still live. If you have even a couple dollars extra, I strongly encourage you to throw them St. Jude’s way.

Let’s cure childhood cancer… together.