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Runner Hits The Streets To Support St. Jude's Hospital

DENVER (CBS4)- For one runner, participating in the Rock 'n' Roll Denver Half Marathon is personal. Jess Taylor Cho will run in memory of her father, and to raise money for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. It makes her a St. Jude's Hero.

Cho is a science teacher for fourth and fifth graders at Aspen Academy in Greenwood Village.

"I love to teach, especially science, because you get to ignite and spark curiosity in kids," said Cho.

In her spare time away from the classroom, Cho has been training for the 10K at the Rock 'n' Roll Denver Half Marathon.

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Jess Taylor Cho (credit: CBS)

"This is one of those things that I can kind of show them, this is something I'm doing to take the lead or do something good for the world," said Cho.

She is also running to raise money for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

"They treat the whole patient and the whole family and they focus on building hope as long as the patient is in their care, so that's why I wanted to help St. Jude," said Cho.

She wished for that kind of hope when her father battled a rare form of cancer.

"My dad... he was my best friend," said Cho.

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Jess Taylor Cho with her father (credit: CBS)

He was diagnosed and died within months, a stunning loss for Cho and her family.

"I couldn't fight back then but what can I do now to fight against cancer? So this is how I'm doing it, by running," said Cho.

LINK: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

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