Varsity Spirit Raises More Than $400k For St. Jude

Posted

Share This Post

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats, and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. 

As of September 15, the letter-writing campaign at Varsity Spirit Summer Camps raised $428,820 which is more than $75,000 above the funds raised at the same time last year. These efforts are on pace for a record-setting year for the letter-writing campaign. Last year, campers completed 131,025 letters, and this year’s participants have already surpassed that by completing 156,885 letters.

Through the letters sent out at camp, money is raised to support patients at St. Jude like Carlie, a 12-year-old cheerleader. Carlie received the treatment that she needed to battle acute myeloid leukemia while she was a patient at St. Jude. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.

null
​Carlie and her team at camp getting ready to write their St. Jude letters.

Thanks to the care and treatment that she received at St. Jude, Carlie rejoined her team this summer at UCA Cheer Camp. The brave young lady shared the story of her St. Jude journey with the camp as they prepared to send their letters.

null
​Carlie sharing her story with all of the teams that attended camp with her.

Summer camp may be over, but September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. It’s time to raise funds and awareness throughout your community and continue to help fund every patient at St. Jude!

Register today to participate in a St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Let’s end childhood cancer. Together.

Brighten up your inbox!

Sign up for the Varsity TV newsletter for all the latest updates and get exclusive content like this delivered directly to your inbox.

<br />

Related News

Southeast Stars Ready For Battle Under The Big Top Grand Nationals

Southeast Stars Ready For Battle Under The Big Top Grand Nationals

The 2025 ASC Battle Under The Big Top Grand Nationals rolls into Atlanta this weekend, bringing with it one of the earliest and most anticipated showdowns of the new cheer season. With a massive 600 points on the line towards the Varsity Cheer League standings, programs from across the nation are set to make big statements on this bright stage. This weekend will bring a little bit of everything, from storied programs debuting fresh new routines, to hungry challengers looking to break through. All star cheer fans can expect high difficulty, high energy, and plenty of early-season storylines as the Big Top lights up the Georgia scene! Here's a look at some storylines we're keeping an eye on:

Dec. 10, 2025