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Major League Soccer and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital^® Team Up For Same Goal: Helping Kids Fight Cancer

Goals for St. Jude ambassadors Rafa Marquez, Kenny Cooper, Logan Pause, Shea Salinas, Jason Hernandez, Mehdi Ballouchy and Dan Kennedy to help raise funds and support for St. Jude

MLS W.O.R.K.S., Major League Soccer’s community outreach initiative, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®  are celebrating Goals for St. Jude Week Sept. 15-22. The week-long program asks fans to join forces with their favorite MLS teams to support the lifesaving work of the hospital. St. Jude is one of the world's premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other deadly childhood diseases.

This year Rafa Marquez and Kenny Cooper (New York Red Bulls) joins Logan Pause (Chicago Fire), Shea Salinas, Jason Hernandez and Mehdi Ballouchy (San Jose Earthquakes) and Dan Kennedy (Chivas USA) on the Goals for St. Jude ambassador roster. These talented players will work together to raise awareness and funds to help St. Jude continue its mission of finding cures and saving children.

“I think it is important for myself and others to support St. Jude because they are fighting for an incredible cause,” said Cooper. “I feel lucky that I had the opportunity to witness first-hand the lifesaving work that St. Jude is doing.”

Throughout Goals for St. Jude Week and the month of September, PSAs about St. Jude will run in-stadium and on broadcasts featuring Marquez, Cooper, Pause, Salinas and Kennedy. Goals for St. Jude Week also coincides with National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

“St. Jude helps its patients celebrate everyday moments – both big and small – that make life so special,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “What’s more, because of the generosity of our donors and the support of great partners like Major League Soccer, no family ever pays St. Jude for anything.”

Prior to Goals for St. Jude Week, each ambassador traveled to Memphis to tour the hospital and met with patients and doctors. All of the players were able to bring smiles to the faces of the patients, but Ambassador Logan Pause felt the patients had a bigger impact on him than vice-versa.

“ I think it is wonderful to see smiles on the faces of the patients,” said Fire midfielder Logan Pause. “To have a chance to sit and talk to them and get to know them was an extremely memorable and humbling experience for me.”

Fans can join MLS and St. Jude by participating in Goals for St. Jude Week. For an inside look at exclusive videos and photos of Goals for St. Jude ambassadors or to make a donation online, visit stjude.org/goals.

Check out videos from the ambassadors on the MLS W.O.R.K.S. video channel.

Learn more about Goals for St. Jude.

Go to the New York Red Bulls Goals for St. Jude Night.