Local Runners to Make the St. Jude Run to Peoria

The 11th Annual St. Jude Run will take place tonight with some 80 or so runners and volunteers making the trek from Quincy to Peoria.  

The Quincy contingent will be joined by runners from Hannibal, Kirksville and Edina as they depart Quincy today at 3 p.m. from parking lot "F" at 5th and Vermont. The 132 mile run is expected to be covered in some 27 hours. The run will culminate with the Quincy group meeting up with a number of other runs from around the state jogging into the Peoria Civic Center for a huge rally.

Over the years, the Quincy run has raised nearly $671 thousand including $84 thousand last year with all the money going to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Each runner is responsible for raising at least $750 to be eligible to participate in the event.

Spectators are encouraged to help send them off today at 3 p.m. This year's co-chairs are Brittany Vermeire and Megan Williams.