For Trish and Wayne Thompson, the mission is clear, and it begins and ends with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
“The reason that I am supporting St Jude Children's Cancer Research Hospital is because of their background in helping families cope with children that are very, very sick,” Trish Thompson said.
By very sick, she explained, she means children whose doctors have determined they need care beyond what a local clinic or hospital can provide. Admission comes by recommendation, when specialized treatment and research are critical.
Founded more than 60 years ago by entertainer Danny Thomas, St. Jude was built on a simple but powerful promise, that no family would ever receive a bill for their child’s treatment. In the early days, the childhood cancer survival rate was just over 20 percent. Today, that rate stands at 82.2 percent, a remarkable transformation driven by decades of research and collaboration.
The Thompsons recently traveled to Memphis to see the campus for themselves. What stood out most was the sheer size.
“We always thought it was one big hospital,” Wayne Thompson said.
Instead, they found a complex stretching across multiple city blocks, with numerous buildings dedicated to research and patient care. Security is tight, access controlled, a visible reminder that the children and families inside are the priority.
The visit reaffirmed why the couple has spent the past several years supporting the hospital’s work. About five or six years ago, Trish first felt called to do something tangible for St. Jude. Since then, the two have quietly organized fundraisers focused on raising awareness and inviting neighbors to take part.
Her motivation, she often tells friends, is simple. Helping one another, one person at a time, can make the world better.
Their current project, called the “Bag Sale for Baldies,” is both practical and heartfelt. Trish is quick to explain the name is not meant lightly, but as a direct and compassionate reference to the children who lose their hair during cancer treatment.
Over the past couple of months, she has created hundreds of handmade gift bags for every occasion, Valentine’s Day, Easter, weddings, babies, birthdays and more. Each one is decorated by hand, some painted, some embellished, all carefully assembled.
“I started out making 100 then I made another 100. I think I made about 245,” she said.
While Trish paints, glues and designs, Wayne keeps things moving behind the scenes. It is, as they describe it, a true tag team effort. If she is busy working on bags for hours at a time, he steps in to handle the daily tasks that keep the household running.
“If one person is busy with a job, somebody else has to be the backup person, and that's my husband in this case, because the laundry still needs to get done, people still need to eat,” Trish said.
Wayne has also helped create some of the bags himself, using his construction background to assist with displays and design details. Together, the project reflects both of them, her creativity and his steady support.
Rather than assigning a price, the Thompsons invite people to choose a bag and make a donation of their choosing, with checks made payable directly to St. Jude. Trish personally mails the contributions on behalf of everyone who participates.
“We just said it's going to be a donation. Just come, take whatever you want,” she said. “If you want to make a donation, that's great.”
The real goal, she said, is awareness.
“The main goal of all of this is to tell people about St. Jude and the goodness that has helped so many kids get better. That's the whole purpose.”
In her invitation to friends and family, she encourages them to be part of what she calls an ongoing cure rate, reminding them that progress happens when communities come together. It takes a village, she says, to help ensure children continue receiving treatment at no financial cost to their families.
St. Jude relies heavily on individual donors to fund its work.
“Unlike other hospitals, the majority of our funding comes from generous friends like you. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food - so they can focus on helping their child live.”
Those interested in supporting the mission can donate directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through its official website, by mail, or by participating in one of its many fundraising efforts. Supporters may also choose to create their own grassroots events, just as the Thompsons have done, turning personal talents into meaningful impact.
For Trish and Wayne, the effort is not about recognition. It is about doing their part, together, to help children facing unimaginable challenges and to remind others that even small acts, repeated year after year, can help change lives.
