A spotlight on this great city: Action News 5s Joe Birch sits down with CEO Rick Shadyac on the St. Jude marathon, its impact, and changing the narrative of the city [Video]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital runs a Marathon of Mercy for kids fighting cancer or other catastrophic diseases every day.

On Saturday—20,000 people will run a full or half marathon to help the hospital persevere in its life-saving mission.

Rick Shadyac, ALSAC CEO, caught up with Action News 5′s Joe Birch and spoke highly of the event, citing it as ”[the] single largest fundraising event of the year.”

“God willing, Joe will raise over $15 million,” Shadyac shared, optimistic that the event will be a fundraising success, “We’ll have runners here from over 50 states and many foreign countries. It’s got an economic impact on the city of over $43 million per year.”

Hopeful that the event will once again shine a light of positivity on the city, Shadyac added, “It’s an opportunity for us to put the spotlight on this great city, Memphis, Tennessee, to show people what …