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Keith and Ella Schwartz
A 12-year-old Ellijay girl is using her love of running to help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Ella Schwartz, an honor student at Clear Creek Middle School, has pledged to run at least 200 miles for St. Jude’s 60 Miles in April Challenge, a fundraising effort on Facebook.
“I love running. It makes me feel better,” Ella said. “I like helping people, and I hate being sick, so I hope this helps someone to not be sick anymore.”
Ella’s dad, Keith Schwartz, said the commitment for the fundraiser is 60 miles, but his daughter has her sights set on running 200 miles or more. That wouldn’t really be out of the ordinary, he said, as Ella usually logs anywhere from 150-200 miles in an average month.
“She ran 213 miles in March and 203 in February,” said Keith. “She kind of felt ripped off by losing those two days in February.”
Keith said his dad, Ella’s grandfather, was a pediatrician who once practiced at a children’s hospital in Washington, D.C. He passed away five years ago, so this will also be a chance for the young girl to do something that helps others in her grandfather’s memory.
“My Papa was a pediatrician, and I know he would like this,” said Ella.
Keith said they found out about the 60-mile challenge, one of several monthly run/walk fundraisers for the Memphis, Tenn., children’s hospital, through an ad on Facebook.
Founded by entertainer Danny Thomas in 1962, the hospital’s mission is to advance cures and prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. No child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay. That all makes it a worthwhile cause to get behind, Keith noted.
“I want to impart charitable giving and work ethic (to my daughter),” he said. “She saw the ad for St. Jude’s and asked what it meant. I explained to her that people would donate money for sick children based on her running. She asked if she would raise more money if she ran more miles, so I explained how donations worked and that donors would be more apt to donate based on that.”
By Monday, Ella was already 50 miles into her goal. The 60-mile challenge will be over April 30, so any donations for registered runners have to be made by then to count, Keith noted.
“My hope is that this will instill a feeling that will propel her to give throughout her life because of how good it makes someone feel. That’s how I was raised and how (I want her to be raised),” he added.
To donate or find out more, visit Facebook.com/fundraisers, and search for Ella Schwartz. Keith can be reached at keithschwartz100@gmail.com with questions.