St. Jude Runs

A charity run from Bloomington-Normal to Peoria turns 40 this year. It was the first of more than 30 satellite fundraisers convening in Peoria by foot. Proceeds support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and its affiliate clinics across the country — the first of which opened in Peoria in 1972.

A team of almost 200 runners, about half of them from Central Illinois, undertake a grueling run for the cause of childhood cancer research this week.

Streets in portions of downtown Peoria will close Saturday afternoon as the St. Jude Runners return from Memphis. The first wave of runners is expected to…