Family gives thanks for St. Jude treatment
CRANBERRY TWP — Although St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is in Tennessee, its impact on children is felt in Western Pennsylvania.
Christina Dugan of Cranberry is leading a fundraising team named after her goddaughter Allie, who is a St. Jude patient, for the St. Jude Walk/Run To End Childhood Cancer Saturday in Pittsburgh.
Dugan is a team development chairman with the St. Jude Walk/Run in Pittsburgh. She got involved with the organization in 2013 after Allie was diagnosed with brain cancer at age 14.
“When she was first diagnosed, they told her she'd only have a year and a half to live, and it'd be a miracle if she graduated high school,” Dugan said. “And this year she just started school at Ole Miss.”
Dugan's team has raised more than $2,800 so far for the event this year. The overall fundraising goal for the Pittsburgh walk is $110,000, said organizer Lindsay Beck, which they were well within reach of before the event started.
Beck said registration begins at 8 a.m. on the Great Lawn on Pittsburgh's North Shore. Former St. Jude patient Haley Hubbard will speak during the opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. The untimed walk/run begins at 9:15 a.m.
Hubbard, of Moon Township, Allegheny County, was diagnosed with cancer twice as a child. She was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia at age 11. She recovered after receiving a bone-marrow transplant, whole body radiation and chemotherapy through St. Jude.
A few years later, she was diagnosed with an unrelated form of cancer — a tumor in her salivary gland. Luckily they could remove the tumor without disturbing any facial nerves and again Hubbard recovered after treatment.
She lived in St. Jude housing during this time and she's thankful for all the things the organization provided for her family.
Because of the harsh radiation treatment she endured as a child, Hubbard was told she was infertile and would not be able to have children. She and husband, Paul, began to accept that reality, but later found out they were pregnant with their first child, Hazel, who is now 11 months.
Hubbard also spoke during opening ceremonies of the walk last year, on the morning of her baby shower. She stepped in at the last minute and had to leave early to make it to her own event. Hubbard is happy to announce that she is pregnant again and due in the spring.
Hubbard said she's looking forward to spending more time at the St. Jude Walk/Run this year with her daughter and husband.
“Not only has St. Jude saved my life but they allowed me to live my life,” she said.
The walk/run has many family friendly activities after the walk including live entertainment, face painting and a kids zone with mascots, Beck said.
Last year the event raised more than $88,000 and had more than 750 participants. This year organizers hope to have about 1,000 participants, Beck said.
“It's just awesome to see everyone from different parts of Pittsburgh come together for such a great cause,” Dugan said.
Those interested can donate to Dugan's Team Allie at walkrun/stjude.org/teamallie for the next month.
