Marcy Heppner’s Fundraiser to Support the Hospital that Saved her Daughter’s Life

Some background.

In 2009, when three-year-old Emma Grace Heppner was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia her parents gave themselves ten minutes to cry, then they went to work. After her diagnosis, Marcy and Mark had only hours to prepare for an ambulance ride to nearby St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where they’d stay for the next several weeks. Emma is also Jacob Heppner’s little sister.

Thankfully St. Jude’s is supported by donations and offers free health care so the Heppner’s didn’t have to worry about paying for her medical expenses.

Giving back.

Back in 2013 through the CrossFit for Hope fundraiser, CrossFit managed to raise enough to pay the operating cost of St. Jude’s for one whole day, the equivalent of $1.9 million back then.

This week, Marcy launched an online fundraiser for St. Jude’s, limited edition items from more than 30 CrossFit Games athletes. One hundred percent of the proceeds from items like signed Games jerseys from Rich Froning, Jason Khalipa, Noah Ohlsen, Kristi Eramo, Amanda Barnhart and a dozen others will go to St. Jude’s. Side note, that’s actually Emma modeling all these wonderful items nearly a decade after being diagnosed with leukemia.

Marcy is also running her first marathon in Memphis as a fundraiser for St. Jude’s.

“When you as a community give, you provide hope and a cure and you take ownership of a child,” Mary said. “Then you’re a part of Emma’s treatment and a part of her cure. You should take ownership of that.”

The auction closes on September 18 at 6:00 PM PT.