Liberty Park Students Raise More Than $14K for St. Jude

VESTAVIA HILLS, AL — Sometimes even the smallest of hands can help out a worthy cause when given the right guidance. This was the case with Liberty Park Elementary school students, led by music teacher Melissa McIntyre, as students raised more than $14,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The "Put Childhood Cancer in Chains" fundraiser in August encouraged students to donate money or participate in the St. Jude Walk/Run of Birmingham on Sept. 21, benefiting St. Jude.

McIntyre, whose son was a former patient at St. Jude, said she set the school’s fundraising goal at $5,000, but students quickly surpassed it.

"We had students donating their piggy bank money, donating allowance they had been saving for toys," McIntyre said. "It’s powerful that these kids know the ‘why’ of what we’re doing."

By Friday afternoon, the total reached $14,900. More than 130 students and family members also signed up to participate in the Walk/Run event, McIntyre said.

To sign up for the event, visit the event website.