She ran. He cycled! It sounds almost poetic, but that is what Collin Morikawa was spotted doing. But he wasn’t alone. For the PGA Tour, Pro was riding it alongside his wife, Katherine Zhu, who was doing it not just for fun but for a bigger cause. Cue the entry of the golfer’s wife as a St. Jude’s Hero at the New York City Marathon.

“Smiles for miles with my ride or die,” wrote Morikawa’s wife on her Instagram handle as she announced her intention to take part in the event on November 3, 2024, “New York Marathon here we come!” She also took to urge her followers to donate via her link in support of the kids at the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, along with a promise; “We’ll be matching every dollar donated!”

The athlete’s soulmate also tried to persuade her followers by bringing in some stats about the institution that opened more than 50 years ago. “Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80%,” continued Katherine Morikawa as she added, “St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.”

How much has the St. Jude Hero raised, in terms of dollar bills? As of September 10, Collin Morikawa’s wife has raised $15,644 in support of the children at the research hospital. Over the months, many people have shared their savings for the noble cause, with donations ranging from $20 to as high as $2,500.

It seems she has come a long way since November 2023, the month when she ran her first marathon. A noble mindset on one side, and a healthy body to run on the other, and you get Morikawa’s soulmate, who as an athlete, has also garnered many accolades, including a medal in Vegas in 2024. What about her husband, the PGA Tour pro? Well, he’s also not much different, just that the athlete does it in his own style.

Collin Morikawa’s pledge at the FedEx St. Jude Championship

“We’re going to be trying to raise as much money as we can for St. Jude,” declared the determined two-time major champ. He did so while pledging to donate $1,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for every birdie throughout the playoffs. Yes, you read that right! He was referring to the three events: the St. Jude Championship, the BMW Championship, and the TOUR Championship.

The athlete carded 15 birdies at TPC Southwind, 13 at Castle Pines Golf Club, and a whopping 27 birdies at the finale at East Lake Golf Club. As a result, Collin Morikawa was able to donate a total of $55,000, thanks to the 55 birdies he scored. FedEx, meanwhile, also shared that they would match the golfer’s $1,000 donation, bringing the total to a mind-boggling $110,000. Truly a philanthropic and noble couple, even when the golfer is in his off-time following the regular season!