There was no doubt that a fundraising effort for the family of a Seckman High School freshman was going to continue, even after his death.
Seckman High business education teacher Becky Alden said the drive, called “Miles for Menner,” will continue through Feb. 25 as planned. The Seckman High Letterman’s Club organized the drive to raise money for Jaxon Menner and his family.
Menner, 15, died Feb. 6. His mother, Danielle Menner, said her son was diagnosed with Pre B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia on July 8, 2013, before he was 3.
“I was on the phone when (Assistant Principal Curtis Sykes) came to tell me the news (on Feb. 6),” said Alden, who is one of the Letterman’s Club sponsors. “I was setting up our celebration to finalize the shoe drive. Dr. Sykes was standing outside my door when I got done. The first thing he said to me was, ‘This will continue.’
“It is definitely continuing. We are going to keep pushing through.”
On Feb. 7, Alden said about 11,000 pairs of shoes had been collected. The shoes will be given to Funds2Orgs, which pays collecting organizations for gently used or new shoes.
Alden said Funds2Orgs will pay about $5,000 for the shoes that have already been collected.
“Miles for Menner” started Jan. 12, but kicked into high gear Jan. 16 during Seckman High’s winter sports assembly when the student body was challenged to collect as many shoes as possible by Jan. 30.
Shoes have been collected at schools throughout the Fox C-6 School District. Alden said 39 businesses and organizations also have been collecting shoes for the drive.
“There are people who we don’t even know donating,” Alden said. “There is a former (Fox C-6) teacher, who was at AMS (Antonia Middle School) when I was at AMS, and she teaches at Festus now. She has five churches contributing. I get home and there are shoes on my porch, and I don’t know where they are coming from.
“It is just endless. The outpouring that these 39 businesses have done for our community is not something you can describe.”
Danielle Menner announced her son died Feb. 6 on the Facebook page “Jax’s Journey,” which is dedicated to her son’s battle with cancer.
“Friday, February 6, 2026 @ 11:39 am Jaxon took his last breath,” Danielle, a second-grade teacher at Clyde Hamrick Elementary School in the Fox district, wrote. “He passed quickly and peacefully surrounded by family. Please respect our time in the coming days.”
A visitation was held Wednesday at Kutis South County Chapel, 5255 Lemay Ferry Road. A funeral was scheduled for 9:30 a.m. today, Feb. 12, starting at Kutis South County Chapel.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, and is the most common form of pediatric cancer. ALL affects white blood cells called lymphocytes, which fight infection and help protect the body against disease, according to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s website, together.stjude.org.
The day before Jaxon died, Danielle Menner posted a message that said, “I never really knew how I would feel if/when this time came. I always thought I would want him to be here no matter what, but I have to say it is easier than I thought because of the pain. I absolutely hate the thought of living without him, but I hate watching him like this, more. I can’t speak for the rest of the family, but these are my feelings. We’re not giving up, just being stronger than we’ve ever been.
“I have officially stepped away from work to be with him. I can’t thank you all enough for all of the donations to allow me to do so.”
Alden said along with money from the shoe drive, the “Miles for Menner” campaign received $1,100 from the Detour Grill and Bar, 2855 Seckman Road, in Imperial after the restaurant donated a portion of its sales one night, and it received $1,500 from a lottery ticket board raffle.
She also said the Texas Roadhouse restaurant, 806 Arnold Commons Drive, in Arnold donated a portion of its profits from sales on Feb. 3, but she did not know as of Feb. 7 how much was collected for the campaign.
Alden also said Feb. 3 was the last time she saw Jaxon, who she taught when he attended Antonia Middle.
“We saw him that evening, and to turn around a few days later, it was a gut punch,” Alden said of learning that Jaxon died. “I know the family is very appreciative of everyone in the community.”
Alden said she has been amazed by the response to the “Miles for Menner” campaign.
She said the Meramec-Arnold Elks Lodge has donated numerous shoes, and the lodge, 1515 Miller Road in Imperial, was opened to Hurts Donut Springfield, when that company sold doughnuts to raise money for the Menner family.
Alden also said Fleet Feet South County, 12494 Tesson Ferry Road, in south St. Louis County has donated 700 pounds of shoes, and Goodwill, 3616 Richardson Square Way, in Arnold and the Xist Fitness locations in Arnold, 3823 Vogel Road, and south St. Louis County, 151 Concord Plaza Shopping Center, have also been collecting and donating shoes.
Alden said the Lettermen’s Club plans to visit every business that helped during the campaign on March 4 to say thank you.
“We appreciate everything the community has done to give strength, love and care to this family, and we will continue to push through,” Alden said. “It has been more than we ever expected. It is amazing how much effort the community has put into this. We are still going. If people want to grieve, donate shoes. It can be a release.”
Miles for Menner
Some drop off locations for the shoe drive to support Seckman High School freshman Jaxon Menner and his family.
Fox C-6 schools
■ Seckman Elementary School, 2824 Seckman Road, Imperial
■ Seckman Middle School, 2840 Seckman Road, Imperial
■ Seckman High School, 2800 Seckman Road, Imperial
■ Antonia Middle School, 6798 St. Lukes Church Road, Barnhart
■ Hodge Elementary, 2499 Prairie Hollow Road, Imperial
■ Fox Elementary School, 739 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold
■ Fox Middle School, 743 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold
■ Clyde Hamrick Elementary, 4525 E. Four Ridge Road, Imperial
■ Simpson Elementary, 3585 Vogel Road, Arnold
■ Meramec Heights Elementary School, 1340 W. Outer 21 Road, Arnold area
Subdivisions
■ Amberleigh Woods, Amberleigh Meadows Drive, Imperial
■ Huntington Glen, Imperial
■ Foxfire Ridge, Barnhart
■ Vanguard Crossing Apartments, 8342 Delcrest Drive, St. Louis County
■ Tamarack, Arnold
■ Pine View Acres, House Springs
■ Estates at Moss Hollow, Imperial
■ Seckman Road Association, Imperial
■ The Bluffs at Romaine, Fenton
Businesses and organizations
■ Goodwill, 3616 Richardson Square Way, Arnold
■ Xist Fitness, 3823 Vogel Road, Arnold
■ Xist Fitness, 151 Concord Plaza Shopping Center, St. Louis County
■ Antonia Fire Protection District, 6633 Moss Hollow Road, Barnhart
■ Star Cafe, 2868 Seckman Road, Imperial
■ Trattoria Giuseppe, 5442 Old Hwy. 21, Otto
■ Oakville Dental Care, 6076 Telegraph Road, St. Louis County
■ Meramec-Arnold Elks Lodge, 1515 Miller Road, Imperial
■ Orange Theory, 528 Old Smizer Road, Fenton
■ Twisted Scissors Salon, 3899 Vogel Road, Arnold
■ Moortell Sports Pub, 120 Main St., Pevely
■ Twin City Church of Christ, 11780 County Road CC, Festus
■ Dollar General, 7030 Hwy. 61-67, Barnhart
■ Good Vibes Barbershop, 1370B Jeffco Blvd., Arnold
■ Encounter Church, 1930 Meyer Drury Drive, Suite A, Arnold
■ Oakville Pet Grooming, 24 Village Plaza, Arnold
■ The Healthy Shopper, 139 Concord Plaza Shopping Center, St. Louis County
■ Shanks Realty, 2855 Seckman Road, Imperial
■ Century Credit Union, 1540 Lemay Ferry Road, St. Louis County
■ Century Credit Union, 3920 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold
■ Valley View Daycare, 2010 Seckman Road, Imperial
■ Concord Church, 13775 Tesson Ferry Road, St. Louis County