Giselle Tato, event marketing representative for St. Jude, said this is the second year the walk will take place in Fort Worth. She said there are people from more than 90 cities participating in the 5K Walk that day.

Last year's event raised more than $50,000, she said. This year, they are expecting to top that with 600 to 750 participants. 

All fundraising from the walk goes directly to research at the hospital.

“No family is ever turned away because of an inability to pay,” Tato said.  

She said since St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital opened 50 years ago, the overall pediatric cancer survival rate has gone from 20 percent to 80 percent. 

Katie Rial, a senior psychology major, assisted with marketing the Give Thanks 5K Walk on campus after she attended a planning meeting, and has helped put a team together for the walk. They will hand out water bottles and cheer on the participants. 

“I have met several people who have been touched by St. Jude,” she said.  “I met some patients and many people who have been affected by cancer in their own lives.”

Tato said that as an incentive to raise funds, the big prize is a trip to New York to meet actress Katharine McPhee and visit the set of her show “Smash.”

The walk is family-friendly and registration is free. There is no donation commitment.  Registration is open until Nov. 17. 

To register, visit givethankswalk.org