MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A southeast Memphis man is using Halloween spirit to make a difference for families battling childhood cancer.
Richard Winkle has transformed his front yard on Hill Gail Drive into a haunted spectacle complete with towering skeletons, animatronics, and spooky scenes, all to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
"Yes. I love Halloween. Halloween is probably one of my top-notch holidays, and we go all out," Winkle said.
Winkles's efforts are part of "Skeletons for St. Jude," a nationwide fundraiser that began in North Carolina in 2020. The idea started when a homeowner added a St. Jude fundraising sign to their Halloween display. Since then, the initiative has spread to hundreds of homes across the country, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to support children and their families impacted by childhood cancer.
"This venture started with we wanted to do a big prop display last year, and I was like, you know what? We're doing all this. We want to raise money for something. So I went on Google, just searched for something that we could do. And I came across Skeletons for St. Jude," Winkle's.
This year, Winkel has already raised nearly $2,000, surpassing last year's total. Neighbors and families are stopping by to enjoy the display and to give.
Each yard display features a QR code that allows visitors to make donations on the spot.
"You come through, you look at the props. If you want to donate, you pull out your phone, you put it over the QR code, you scan it, and you donate, and it goes straight to St. Jude," Winkle explained.
According to St. Jude, families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food.
Winkle's haunted yard will be open for two nights of scares and fundraising fun at 4586 Hill Gail Drive.
Visitors can scan the QR code sign outside his home or click here to donate directly to St. Jude.
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