The associates of Averitt Express are doing their part to take a sad song and make it better. They've donated $200,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a pediatric treatment and research center for children with cancer and other diseases. The check was presented to the Memphis-based hospital at the 10th annual St. Jude Cancer Survivors Conference, whose attendees included Averitt Express associate and former St. Jude patient Ginger Nichols.

"I began my journey at St. Jude when I was two years old and my grandmother noticed something was wrong with my eye," said Nichols. "I was referred to St. Jude after my doctor diagnosed my condition as retinoblastoma. I have such fond memories of St. Jude, and I was overwhelmed with emotions when I returned to the hospital for Survivors' Day. It is a thrill to be part of an organization that gives back to the one that gave me a chance at a full life."

Associates of Averitt, a Cookeville, Tenn.-based freight transportation and supply chain specialist, have donated money to charitable organizations for the past 20 years through their employee giving program, Averitt Cares. To date, they have contributed more than $1.5 million to benefit patients being treated at St. Jude.