Ignite Foodservice will participate in the St. Jude’s Walk/Run fundraiser on September 22 at the Tivoli Quad on the Auraria Campus in Denver for this year’s corporate Giveback Challenge. This event brings the community together to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s life-saving mission of treating and defeating childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Whether you are walking, running, volunteering, or cheering on participants from a distance, this event offers a chance to experience elements of St. Jude’s Hospital in the Denver event location.
Ignite will have eight local employees, as well as family and friends, participating in the Walk/Run. Abigail Hayden from Structural Concepts and her family will also join us.
Bringing St. Jude to Denver
At St. Jude, every detail is designed to ensure children receive the best possible treatment and maintain a sense of comfort and normalcy. One of the most iconic symbols of this care is the red wagons that children use to navigate the hospital grounds. These little red wagons let kids experience joy and play during treatment, providing comfort beyond medical care. This attention to emotional well-being is at the heart of what makes St. Jude unique.
Participants in the walk/run will also have a chance to connect with St. Jude’s mission by choosing wristbands that represent their personal connection to the cause. Whether you’ve been personally impacted by pediatric cancer or are supporting a loved one, this symbolic gesture allows everyone to show their commitment to fighting childhood illness.
Ignite’s Commitment to Giving Back
At Ignite, giving back to the community is part of who we are. Every year, each employee is eligible to receive $500 to be used toward a Giveback Challenge to work with an organization of their choice by spearheading a community project. Last year, we made over 300 blankets for the local Children’s Hospital in Denver. This year, we wanted to scale up our efforts and contribute to a cause that impacts families on a much larger scale. St. Jude’s research and treatment programs provide free care and housing to families, ensuring they never receive a bill for their child’s treatment.
For Daina Canavan, Director of Operations at Ignite, this cause is personal. “My father lost his life to cancer when I was 15, and as a mother and grandmother, I cannot imagine what it would be like to watch a child go through that same journey,” she shared. Daina’s experience also included supporting her husband through a rare illness, which took a heavy financial and emotional toll on her family. “We lost everything – our home, cars, even our farm. The burden was unbearable. That’s why I’m so passionate about St. Jude and their mission to provide care and resources free of charge.”
Join Us on September 22
Ignite is proud to support St. Jude and invites you to join us in walking, running, or volunteering at this year’s event if you are in Denver. We thank the dealerships and factories that have donated to our cause so far this year. Together, we can help raise funds for St. Jude’s groundbreaking research and bring hope to families in need. We are very appreciative of any donations for the Ignite team. Click here to donate!
