Each year, so many sincere smiles and touched hearts show up to Walk with a Friend, and this year's event felt even more overflowing with support than in recent years. Over 1,500 participants registered to attend the event or support from their homes, the most registrants since 2017.
Yet, so many of our oldest friends were seen celebrating and walking as teams. Teams like Caleb vs Cancer, Cole's Crew, Emma's Animals, Lauren's F.riends A.nd R.elatives T.ogether, Mackenzie's Lucky Charms, Mario's Army, Midwest Elevator, Road Runners, Team Emily and Nick, and so many more friends.
While some things change, like the ever-updating weather report, DJ music, a new trailer platform stage, and food trucks, so much enjoyment stays the same.
Spread Ari's Light's glitter tattoos, crowns, and capes adorned our superheroes and queens, while showcasing pictures in a classic car. Santa Needs Help handed out popcorn, snow cones, and pretzels in addition to the donated breakfast snacks. Hart of the City Photo Booth provided fun, digital keepsake photos.
DJ Shawn, patient dad and owner of Eclipse DJs STL, kept us moving and grooving between announcements. Donny Fandango from 106.5 The ARCH cheered on runners as they crossed the finish line and presented first, second, and third place awards to 10K and 5K runners.
Thanks to Big Tex Trailer World, our award winners received their medals and winnings on a stage, and the trailer showcased banners, one featuring the faces of all those we honored that day.
Our vendors, Mario's Army, Be Brave Grace, and Young Friends of Kids with Cancer, sold goods for donation, including vintage race shirts and bedazzled wares.
Food trucks helped caffeinate and rejuvenate with tasty offerings from Mr. Papas 2 Go, Travelin' Tom's Coffee, and Too Sweetz Dessert.
Maryland Heights Fire and EMS sounded the horn to start the race and displayed a huge American flag from their high fire truck ladder, which made for a patriotic backdrop to the race start.
Special friends gave hugs and silly misadventures for big smiles, like St. Louis Blues Louie, St. Louis Cardinals Fredbird, Star Wars characters from The 501st Legion & The Rebel Legion, and Princesses Jasmine, Belle, and Cinderella from Dreamtime Princesses.
Volunteers set up, kept the event going, and made for an easy take-down by facilitating all the lawn games and prizes (no child left empty-handed), watching bounce houses, handing out water on the run path, registration, and more.
All these amazing supporters, businesses, and caring individuals came together to honor and remember children who battle cancer -- whether that meant walking together, running a long distance, offering services, volunteering to see smiles, sweating, or shedding tears. There's so much momentum and heartfelt power when we gather together to Walk with a Friend.
