Tri-state runners are lacing up their shoes as part of the kick off to the 2012 St. Jude Runs.

Runners from Hannibal, Macomb and Quincy will start their journey to the Peoria Civic Center Friday.

Each runner has spent months fundraising and training for the event by raising $750 apiece and running two mile increments with a pace of ten minutes per mile.

Tri-State support and participation has grown over the years. Justin Wollbrink, the 2012 Quincy Run Coordinator said this year they are up to 82 runners. Last year there were 70.

The addition of each runner means a larger fund raising total. All of the proceeds from the run go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The money will help families with children battling cancer and will benefit cancer research. A total of 29 participating cities have raised more that $25 million toward the cause. As word of the event spreads, so does local participation.

"There's not many races that can run at two in the morning on an open road through the middle of nowhere" Justin said. "Once they find out what St. Jude is all about, it is a very big motivation because no one wants to see little kids suffer like they do. "

This year you can go out and show your support to area runners and volunteers. Runners in Hannibal start at the Tom & Huck statue at noon and meet up with Quincy runners, who start their 135 mile leg at 6 p.m. from the Quincy Downtown Historical Business District.

Just because the run to the Peoria Civic Center marks an end to the 2012 event, that doesn't mean that the work of all the volunteers and participants has come to an end. They start fundraising for next year's event right away.

You can visit their website to check out ways you can support the St. Jude Runs.