FOX Sports Teams Up with St. Jude Research Hospital

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - St. Jude will take center stage this NFL football season. FOX Sports chose St. Jude for its FOX Sports supports campaign, and will promote the Children's Research Hospital before and after games all season long.

The whole country will see commercials about St. Jude before and after games that air on FOX. The on air personalities came here to Memphis and made a big impression on the kids.

It was a special day at St. Jude.

The FOX Sports television personalities came to the research hospital to meet some of the patients. It was thrilling for the kids, but FOX commentators say it was the patients who made the biggest impression.

"They're getting the best care, treating them properly but showing them a lot of love and these kids are fun. It was fun working with them. They're tough too. Its amazing how resilient they are," said Howie Long and Terry Bradshaw.

Howie Long and Terry Bradshaw were joined by Troy Aikman, Jimmy Johnson, and all the FOX Sports personalities for the visit to Memphis. During the two day trip the crew recorded commercials that will run before and after football games this season on FOX.

Michael Strahan was particularly touched by Shon, a standout high school football player whose college career is side tracked by Leukemia.

"To come here and meet Shon made me realize why I stopped playing football, look how big he is. To come here and meet him, see what he's going through, to know where he is going in his future, really is inspirational to me," said Strahan.

FOX Sports employees across the country voted to make St. Jude the charity of this football season. St. Jude says, even more exciting, the Super Bowl is on FOX this year.

"Its going to hit an audience we don't always hit, a lot of males will be watching this so having football heroes doing commercials will hit a new audience for us," said David McKee.

St. Jude raises more than $700 million every year. But this prime TV coverage offers more than just dollars.

"It's all about, not just raising the money, but building awareness. Because by building awareness, god forgive when somebody has a child who has cancer, they know St. Jude exist here and fox sports will help spread that message."