Caring and Sharing is How the USAPA and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Play
The relationship between the USAPA and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® continues to embrace 
heartwarming stories for patients and their families. Since November 2016, the USAPA has raised over $55,691.03 for the kids of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Much-needed funds generated from USAPA tournaments are being used to help these families and their loved ones so they can solely focus on their concerns – getting healthy and return to a normal childhood. One of St. Jude’s patients is Harper who is sweet, funny and athletic. When her family learned she had cancer, they accepted Harper’s journey like they were beginning a race. “Harper is resilient, she has the best attitude,” said her mom, Lauren. “When we learned she had cancer, I told her it’s just like a race, there are miles that are going to be bad, and there are miles that are going to be good, but there’s always going to be a finish line. We’re going to finish this. We’re going to win.”
In April 2017, Harper was found to suffer from a rare type of liver cancer called undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma. At St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, she underwent surgery to remove the tumor, followed by chemotherapy and photon radiation therapy.
Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 
percent to 80 percent since it opened 50 years ago. Harper is an athlete. She has played softball and basketball and she swims competitively, with freestyle and butterfly her strongest strokes. Harper is also a nationally-ranked shot putter who placed sixth during the 2016 Summer Junior Olympics. Just a month before Harper was diagnosed with cancer, she placed fourth at the indoor nationals. “She can’t wait to get back to shot put and basketball,” Lauren said. “She’s already in our pool again swimming laps.”
“I cannot imagine our world without St. Jude in it,” Lauren said. “We’re forever grateful for everything they’ve done for us. When we come for appointments, Harper says it feels like home. And it does, it’s a part of our home now.”
Through USAPA’s love and commitment, they are helping St. Jude to help end childhood cancer. You can help patients like Harper too by dedicating your next tournament to the patients of St. Jude. Call — (800) 457-2444 or email specialevents@stjude.org
