Angie King, at left, and Kelle Moody from Discovery Middle School ran in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon. “The race was one of the most touching races I’ve ever been a part of. When you see kids holding signs that say, ‘I survived because you run!,’ it really puts things in perspective,” King said. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Who said rivalry isn’t good? Teachers and administrators in Madison’s middle schools recently competed to help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Jamie Golliver, Liberty Middle School assistant principal, challenged Missy King, media specialist at Discovery Middle School. Golliver claimed Liberty could raise more for St. Jude than Discovery.

“My competitive side kicked in,” King said. Initially, she hoped Discovery would raise $2,500 to beat Liberty.

“St. Jude does such amazing work in fighting cancer,” Golliver said. “When Dennis James formed (Team Madison), it was a privilege to participate. I have personally lost multiple family members to cancer. This terrible disease has affected everyone in some way.”

King and Discovery counselor Kelle Moody ran in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon on Dec. 6. “This was my third half-marathon … and Kelle’s first,” King said.

King and Moody have watched students diagnosed with different cancers and return to work hard for a ‘normal’ teenage life. Last year, a colleague’s kindergarten student entered St. Jude for a 62-week stay.

“We run (for) St. Jude and collect for families that can’t. They shouldn’t have to worry about (paying) for treatments,” meals and lodging, King said.

Discovery also held “Cutest Pet” and “Silliest Selfie” photo contests and Spirit Night at Stevi B’s Pizza as fundraisers. Principal Melanie Barkley encouraged donations via her “Panther Report” and Discovery’s website.

As of Dec. 4, Discovery and Liberty had raised more than $4,700.

Other Team Madison runners were Rainbow’s Dorinda White, Mill Creek’s Kathy Johnson, Columbia’s Lisa Grice, Bob Jones’ Bridget Drummond, James Clemens’ Peggy Boynton, Madison’s Melissa Mims and Horizon’s Tesa Hernandez.

“Over the years, our campaign has been very successful, raising more than $250,000. Every school has students who have been impacted by St. Jude’s work,” Dennis James, director of student services, said.

Madison City Schools “has raised $33,100 through St. Jude Heroes and another $24,000 from St. Jude Math-a-Thon. West Madison still has a fundraiser scheduled in April,” James said. “By the time it’s all complete, we should top $60,000 this year.”

For information, visit stjudemarathon.org.