July 21, 2008

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Conference USA football student-athletes visited St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Monday to close out the 2008 Football Media Blitz schedule of events. As part of C-USA's efforts to become the best Division I-A collegiate conference in athletics, academics and in the community, 22 players were given a tour of the hospital and research laboratory on the St. Jude campus.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay.

The group had the opportunity to visit with some of the outstanding research scientists and get an up-close look at their laboratories. The student-athletes also visited with young patient and his mother at the end of the tour, swapping autographs, and had their pictures taken with a few patients.

About 4,900 patients are seen at St. Jude yearly and has treated children from all 50 states and from around the world.