Up early on Saturday, Sept. 26, PREP students assisted St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer.

Senior Director-Field Manager Wanda Brill said if it wasn’t for organizations like PREP they wouldn’t be able to help those in need. At St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (in Memphis), families never pay for their children to receive treatment. Brill says the success of these events and the revenue it brings is ultimately what helps to save lives.

“We always tell them (the family members at the hospital) all they have to worry about is making sure that their child lives,” Brill said. “Groups like PREP that help the hospital with its fundraisers are imperative to our fight.”

More than 3,000 runners/walkers participated, helping St. Jude to raise more than $360,000. This is one step closer to achieving its goal of decreasing childhood cancer by 90 percent in the next decade, eventually ending childhood cancer altogether.

PREP students assisted photographers, helped with social media, and worked to assist the media covering the event.  

Those working media check-in were able to make connections with participants and media outlets such as local TV stations. Junior Mary Bryant Fleming, who is a second semester PREP student, said she was especially excited to work this event.

“This has been one of the coolest ones we’ve done just because it’s for a great cause,” she said.

The photographer assistants said they had a great time seeing every aspect of the event from beginning to end.

“You really get to see the event from all different perspectives rather than just being in one spot,” said Junior Shannon Cooney, a PREP first-timer.

While their photographers were climbing infrastructure to get the perfect picture, they were right there getting the names and making note of shots to use later on.

“It definitely helps as far as knowing which shots you want to give back,” said St. Jude photographer Marc Naranjo. “They’ve been a big help.”

The walk/run was held in conjunction with 47 other St. Jude walk/runs occurring the same day across the nation. PREP students said they were happy to work such a worthwhile event.

The PREP students are back to work on Oct. 10 for the Diamond Ball, an annual gala for Miami Children’s Health Foundation.