Jay Knight rolled into the Hairpin at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville early this morning on his bicycle. The alum stopped at SIUE as part of his efforts to raise $100,000 for sick children and pay homage to his friend and fallen soldier, Lance Corporal Johnny Strong.
Knight left SIUE headed to St. Louis Children’s Hospital, accompanied by Dean Bennett. There he planned to visit hospital staff, who work with sick children. Monies raised will be used to purchase video games, toys, books and other fun items for children and are dispersed to a network of more than 70 hospitals worldwide.
Knight will donate the contributions in memory of his fellow Marine to Child’s Play Charity, a game industry charity that uses contributions to improve the lives of children while they are in the hospital.
Knight and his partner in the bike-a-thon, Denny Salisbury of Kelseyville, Calif., left the Boston Convention Center on April 11. Salisbury met Knight today at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The two former Marines plan to end their memorial ride on Aug. 30 at the Seattle Convention Center.
For more information, visit Pax2Pax.
Photos:
Jay Knight (right) biked to campus early this morning as part of his Johnny Strong Memorial Charity Ride. Also pictured is Dean Bennett, who will accompany Knight to St. Louis Children’s Hospital.