SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Allison Jackson doesn’t have to be convinced of the medical miracles performed every day at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Her 6-year-old son, Noah, is living proof.

Diagnosed at 15 months with leukemia, Noah underwent 146 weeks of chemotherapy at the Memphis, Tenn.-based specialty hospital.

Today, the Rockwell Elementary School student has been in remission for more than four years, and the family will continue a longstanding tradition of fundraising for St. Jude Saturday with the second annual “Give Thanks. Walk.” 5-K at the Eastern Shore Centre.

The Spanish Fort location is one of 60 locales nationwide — up from only 42 in 2009 — hosting simultaneous charity walks this weekend to kick off the organization’s annual “Thanks and Giving” fundraising and awareness campaign. The effort combines the efforts of celebrities, media, retail and corporate partners, asking consumers to “Give thanks for the healthy kids in your life, and give to those who are not.”

The campaign was created in 2004 by the children of entertainer and St. Jude founder Danny Thomas.

St. Jude spokeswoman Jessami Jacobson said Spanish Fort and Huntsville were the only two Alabama cities to host walks in 2009. Florence, Ala., was added to the lineup in 2010.

Jackson said she has no question Saturday’s walk will attract generous souls because she’s been surprised time and again by the giving spirit of Baldwin and Mobile counties.

In fact, she said the family’s first walk — held only six months after Noah’s diagnosis — set a modest $2,000 goal and raised 10 times that amount.

Jackson said last year’s inaugural “Give Thanks. Walk.” at the Eastern Shore Centre set a $10,000 goal because “we really didn’t know what to expect.” They were overwhelmed when 400 walkers turned out, raising $30,000.

“We picked the Eastern Shore Centre because this is a retail-centered effort where stores participate and contribute, and the (center) had 10 stores who already participate in the national campaign,” Jackson said.

According to the official “Give Thanks. Walk.” website, more than 50 companies nationwide have committed to support the fundraiser, encouraging their customers to give to St. Jude “through add-ons at the register or by purchasing specialty merchandise.”

Participating retailers can be identified by the “Thanks and Giving” magnifying glass logo displayed in stores and online and include Kmart, CVS, Kay Jewelers, Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Williams-Sonoma, AutoZone, Tumi, Old Navy, HomeGoods, Cornerstone Brands and Expedia, to name a few.

While there is no registration fee for Saturday’s family-centered event, Jackson did say a $35 donation lands participants a T-shirt. In addition, Wintzell’s Oyster House will provide a breakfast buffet for walkers, and live music — not to mention Santa Claus — will be on hand throughout the day.

Jacobson called St. Jude is one of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centers.

“Its mission is to find cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases through research and treatment,” she said, noting no child is ever turned away from the facility because of the family’s inability to pay for medical care.