Joe's Jog For a Cure 5k Race and 1 mile fun run

Join us for the 3rd annual Joe’s Jog For A Cure 5k/1 mile fun run with a virtual option being held in Nocatee, Florida on November 4, 2023. This event is being held in honor of our son, Joe, who we lost at 9 years old to a rare form of leukemia. All are welcome at this event and prizes will be awarded.

In the nine short months that Joe battled leukemia he was treated at several hospitals. The last was St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. In the short month that we were there, the doctors and nurses quickly became family to us. They exhausted every possible treatment option to give Joe a chance to survive. They held our hands, prayed with us, and most importantly gave us hope that we would come home with our boy. Hope is a precious thing when you have a critically ill child. For these reasons, and so many more, St. Jude will continue to be the beneficiary of all JDMF events. 

We have recently been awarded “The Joe DeWaele Research Grant” at St. Jude Children’s Hospital based on our contributions. This grant is a very special milestone for our family and our foundation. This allows us to directly donate to the The Charles Mullighan Lab, based at St. Jude, and research that focuses on understanding how mutated genes contribute to the development of leukemia and novel approaches to treatment. Joe’s subtype of leukemia, Hypodiploid Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, is one of the high risk forms  being studied and researched. It is our hope to one day be part of the cure.

The Joe DeWaele Memorial Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and was established in Joe’s honor in 2021. To date, we have donated $42K to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. We hope you will join us in our efforts.

5K Run: $35  1Mile Fun Run: $25 

Virtual Run: $25 (Race shirt not included)

Day of registration will be available but a race shirt is not guaranteed.

*RACE DAY PACKET PICK UP IS DAY OF THE EVENT*

2023 Participant Giveaways:      Those registered by 10/4/2023 are guaranteed a custom race shirt. After that, shirts will be available while supplies last. Any extra shirts will be distributed after the race on a first come first serve basis.

Fastest Runners in 5k will be awarded  Overall first and second place,  Awards for Top Finishers in all age ranges.

Who is Joe?

Joe DeWaele was just 8 years old when he was diagnosed with a rare form Leukemia. Joe was smart, funny, unassuming, kind, and a wonderful son, brother, and friend. Joe loved spending time with his family, playing MineCraft and Roblox, hanging out with his dogs Emma & Gary, playing on his iPad, and riding his go-cart. Joe loved cheeseburgers and bacon, orange Fanta, pickles, sour skittles, and pizza. He was all boy and had so many things he still wanted to do. 

 In the 9 months he fought leukemia he truly taught all of us what it means to be brave and strong. He leaves a legacy of kindness and compassion; strength and grace; and a legion of family and friends who are #joestrong.

We hope you or your business will consider supporting Joe’s Jog For A Cure by becoming a sponsor.

Sponsorship provides you and/or your company the opportunity to be a visible supporter to our partners, participants, and community members. It gives you the opportunity to join us, as an active partner, in our fight against pediatric cancer and support our foundation. We are thankful for your consideration and potential partnership. 

Deadline for Sponsorship is October 5, 2023.

Donations:

Whether you participate in the 5K, 1 Mile Fun Run, or Virtual Run, you still have the opportunity to support The Joe DeWaele Memorial Foundation by donating financially to a worthy cause. In doing so, you are personally assisting us in our ongoing efforts to support pediatric cancer research at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital  and the obligations of a nonprofit organization. In uncertain times, such as we are in, your contribution is held in the highest regard. The Joe DeWaele Memorial Foundation is dedicated to providing positive events that uplift our community and support our driving cause. 

Questions?

Contact Carolyn DeWaele at joestrongjax@gmail.com

Visit our website at www.joestrong.org