Fans encouraged to join NFL Network and NFL PLAY 60 in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by sharing a video of their best ’40-Yard Dash’
It’s once again that time of year where NFL Network and DIRECTV AUDIENCE Network personality Rich Eisen returns to Indianapolis to cap off coverage of the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Presented by Verizon with his signature 40-yard dash for the “Run Rich Run” charitable campaign for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.
Eisen’s display of athletic prowess in a suit, tie and Nike cleats has served as a fitting conclusion to NFL Network’s coverage of the NFL Scouting Combine since 2004 and has helped raise nearly $1.2 million for St. Jude in the battle against childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. “Run Rich Run” has been embraced by NFL fans, players and team personnel, providing a charitable opportunity to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude: Finding cures. Saving children.®
With the 2020 campaign being officially announced on “The Rich Eisen Show,” Eisen has been deep in training in his quest to best last year’s time of 6.00 seconds. When it’s time for the main event, St. Jude patient Von, who currently resides in Indiana, will be on hand to give Eisen a pre-race pep talk prior to his 16th all-time run.
“It’s an honor to run on behalf of St Jude,” said Eisen. “While my 40 time over the past 15 years may not necessarily decrease, it’s incredibly rewarding to see the amount raised for St. Jude increase each year to help kids like Von. Our NFL community – fans, players, and coaches – are an extremely generous group, and I appreciate the support they continue to provide to this important cause.”
Eisen’s 40-yard dash will air within NFL Network’s final day of coverage from the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Presented by Verizon on Sunday, March 1.
Since 2012, the NFL has partnered with St. Jude through NFL PLAY 60, which is the “Official Champion of Play” at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. As the League’s national youth health and wellness campaign encouraging youth to get physically active for 60 minutes a day, the NFL PLAY 60 initiative helps patients and families at St. Jude cope with serious illnesses through play therapy, peer interaction and other activities.
“The NFL has once again raised the bar of philanthropic giving by providing this tremendous platform for our friend Rich to share his heartfelt dedication to create awareness and raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “His purpose is clear. Rich is a role model for standing up for a cause in which he believes, yard-after-yard and year-after-year. The kids and families at St. Jude will be watching closely as Rich runs the 40-yard dash and spreads the message of our founder, Danny Thomas that no child should die in the dawn of life.”
NFL Network and the NFL Foundation have combined for a donation of $50,000 to the cause. Courtyard by Marriott has also generously pledged a donation to help support St. Jude.
As the Official Champion of Play at St. Jude, NFL PLAY 60 has pledged to support the needs of its Child Life program, which helps children cope with the stress of their illness through therapeutic play and other activities, promoting development, self-expression and peer interaction among other benefits. Child Life is an integral part of the medical team at St. Jude and is visible in every clinical arena from patient care to program development.
To support NFL PLAY 60’s collaboration along with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, fans can visit: NFL.com/RunRichRun.
Fans can submit their own 40-yard dash videos via Twitter, Instagram and YouTube using the following hashtags: #RunRichRun #StJude #PLAY60.
Live coverage of the 2020 NFL Combine Presented by Verizon begins Thursday, February 27 at 4:00 PM ET and continues through Sunday, March 1 on NFL Network, as well as across devices (smartphone, PC, tablet and connected TVs) through the NFL app or NFL.com/watch for subscribers of participating NFL Network providers. Full NFL Network audio simulcast coverage will be carried live on the TuneIn app. Additionally, SiriusXM’s NFL Radio will be broadcasting live from Indianapolis all week. For the full schedule and all the ways to watch the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine Presented by Verizon, go to NFL.com/WatchCombine.
“The Rich Eisen Show,” nationally syndicated across 160+ radio stations and on television via DIRECTV’s AUDIENCE channel 239 and streaming on DIRECTV NOW, airs Monday-Friday, Noon–3PM ET / 9AM–Noon PT.
