The St. Jude Bike-a-Thon in Brundidge almost didn’t happen this year. Had it not, that would have meant that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital would have had about $2,000 less for its research program.

At St. Jude pediatric treatment and research facility in Memphis, discoveries have been made that have completely changed how the world treats children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

That’s the reason that the officers of the Brundidge Police Department reacted positively when there was a question as to whether they would sponsor the annual Bike-a-Thon fundraiser for St. Jude.

“They said that we’ve been doing this for five years. Why stop now?” said Brundidge Police Chief Moses Davenport. “We actually started raising funds for St. Jude in 2004. I don’t know how they got my name ,but they called and asked me if I would be a coordinator for a fundraising event. They didn’t know that I was the chief of police. They just had my name.”

Davenport found it hard to say no to such a worthy cause, so he presented the opportunity to the officers and staff of the Brundidge Police Department.

“They thought it was a good idea to do what we could to help,” he said. “The idea of a bike-a-thon was tossed around, and that’s what we decided to do and we’ve been doing it ever since.”

Davenport said this year’s fundraiser was very successful with about $2,000 raised.

“We had 20 or more people participating and we always get tremendous support from some of the local churches and from Steed Tire and Cookie Graham,” he said. “They make financial donations that are sometimes used for kids who try but aren’t able to raise the $35 in donations needed to get a tee-shirt. The sponsors have agreed that a portion of their donations can be used to sponsor these kids.”

Davenport said his department is committed to helping raise funds for St. Jude because of the many children’s lives that are made better or saved because of the work done there.

“What I’ve been told is that 80 percent of all funds raised for St. Jude actually goes to research,” he said. “That’s a high percentage when compared to some other organizations where a large percentage of the dollars raised goes to administrative cost.”

Those who would like to make a donation to St. Jude through the Brundidge Police Department may do so at the police department on Main Street.