More than $9 million pledged following the launch of the Inspiration4 campaign in support of St. Jude’s

The Inspiration4 campaign is bringing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to people that want the chance to travel into space. And as part of its mission, it has set an ambitious goal to fundraise for St. Jude Children’s Research hospital.

The first all-civilian mission to space is being piloted by 37-year-old Jared Isaacman, a prolific entrepreneur and avid pilot, who has attempted to set world records for circumnavigating the globe. So far, more than $9 million has been pledged to the campaign, with public figures, scientists, researchers, and business leaders pledging their support.

Among some of the campaign’s supporters, American astrophysicist Sarafina Nance, artist MaryLiz Bender, author Abigail Harrison and Medtech Entrepreneur Ruben Salinas, have been encouraging donations to St. Jude’s through various initiatives and call-to-action videos, released on social media.

Ruben Salinas, co-founder of URLimitless Education, speaking with The Britonian about the campaign said, “Inspiration4 has brought together a diverse background of people to help fundraise for St. Jude’s while encouraging young people to take an active curiosity in sciences. I’ve been touched by how people have contributed and wanted to do my part to encourage donations, while advocating for STEM education; which I believe can help educate and inspire the next generation of problem solving leaders.”

With inspiration4 aiming to take off later this year on SpaceX’s Dragon Capsule, two St. Jude supporters will participate as part of the 4-person crew, with one seat being offered in a public contest, currently underway.

Officially announcing the crewed mission earlier this month, SpaceX stated the launch would be with its Resilience spacecraft, currently docked at the International Space Station, following its successful flight in November last year.

Elon Musk, who’s looking to propel space travel, spoke about the mission and what people could expect saying, “You get to go where you want to go. But I think we’re nominally assuming it’s two to four days, but if you want to go longer that’s fine too.”

With the first all-civilian space launch just months away, the Inspiration4 mission aims to bring vital funding to St. Jude’s, an institution that has helped improve the overall childhood cancer survival rates from 20% in the 1960s to 80% today in the United States, with new funds going to more research that will help bring vital cancer care to children in developing countries.