Joe Farris Day set for Saturday in Douglas

DOUGLAS — For the 12th year, the city of Douglas on Saturday will celebrate Joe Farris Day. And for the 12th year, Farris will use the honor to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Douglas declares the day each year in recognition of the charitable work Farris has done on behalf of the Memphis hospital that has conducted groundbreaking work on childhood cancers such as leukemia. Since the facility opened, the cure rate for childhood cancers has risen from 20 percent to 80 percent. Entertainer Danny Thomas established St. Jude as a place for children to be treated for illnesses regardless of their family’s ability to pay.

Farris, who taught in Coffee County schools and in Pelham, said Monday that he will be at his usual spot inside Kmart 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday to accept donations for the medical center for which he has raised money for nearly 60 years. The hospital opened in 1962, but Farris began working to raise money for it in the late 1950s.

In previous years, Farris accepted donations of both money and toys, the latter of which he took to St. Jude for distribution to young patients as the St. Jude Santa. Farris made 104 trips in December and July, but had to end the biannual travels in 2014 after a heart ailment.

This year, he said he’s hoping to raise more money for the hospital. While he now resides in Loganville, he’ll make the trip to Douglas for the event.

“I’m doing fine now, except for the arthritis in my knees,” Farris said. “I’m having to use a cane now.”

Earlier this year, Farris mounted a couple of campaigns to raise funds for the hospital. The first was interrupted by the January storms that devastated parts of Southwest Georgia, including Albany, which has been a strong support base for Farris over the years. In April, he tied an effort to raise $1,000 in donations to his 86th birthday.

“I’m still a ways from it,” he said.

Farris said those who can’t make the trip to Douglas on Saturday but who want to donate to the children’s hospital can send a check to St. Jude Hospital, c/o Joe Farris, 4541 Cedar Drive, Loganville, Ga. 30052.