JD Burch for St. Jude 2026: Marching for St. Jude
I truly cannot believe this is the fifth year of my fundraising campaign. Just like each year, I’m setting out to raise as much money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as I can. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and I firmly believe that NO child deserves to suffer from cancer. Not only does St. Jude provide lifesaving treatment, but they also perform extensive research on childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. They then publish the entirety of the research for FREE so doctors and institutions across the world can care for children everywhere.
The team at St. Jude understands the hardships that come with childhood cancer beyond just the physical symptoms. Patients miss school and social activities, and families struggle to work out transportation while still juggling their careers. This is why St. Jude strives to minimize the impact of a diagnosis as much as possible. Their facility provides housing, food, and recreational activities to patients and their families. Unfortunately, the cost of cancer treatment is enormous and can be impossible for many families to cover on their own. That’s why St. Jude NEVER sends a bill. Their lifesaving work is free of charge and is supported by philanthropic donations from people like you and me.
Stop and re-read that paragraph. St. Jude treats children, and they never send an out-of-pocket bill. That is truly amazing.
I am extremely excited to have your support in this effort, and I highly encourage you to make a donation. $1, $5, $10, anything and everything helps. Be sure to check the donation site to see if your employer matches donations. Many do, and that is an incredibly helpful way to maximize your donation.
Now, onto the fun stuff. Do you need a bit more incentive to donate? Just like last year, the theme of my campaign is Marching for St. Jude. As a proud member of the Michigan Marching Band, I am excited to share this passion in conjunction with my fundraiser. All month, I will be bringing the MMB experience to you by sharing pictures, POV clips from pregame and halftime shows, and section events. As part of this, the Marching for St. Jude incentive will make a return. This incentive is similar to a walk-a-thon: you can pledge here to donate an amount per hour I rehearse, individually practice, and perform with the Michigan Marching Band through the month of September. Everybody who pledges will get exclusive access to certain videos/pictures throughout September and regular updates about my experience and highlights in the MMB. This is an excellent way to support me both on and off the field, while also helping children with life-threatening diseases. If you pledge an amount, you can either spread the donations throughout the month as I update my hours, or donate it all in a lump sum at the end.
Thank you so, so much for your support. This cause means a lot to me. I firmly believe no child deserves to die of cancer, and I am thrilled to be back for a fifth year.