Holly Springs family's Halloween display nears $1 million for St. Jude

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. (WTVD) -- A Holly Springs family's Halloween display is doing more than giving neighbors a fright, it's helping save lives.

For five years, the Robertson family has turned their elaborate decorations into a fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. What began as a family idea has grown into a national movement called Skeletons for St. Jude.

"This is my favorite month of the year," said Jeff Robertson.

"My dad asked us how we could put it to a good cause," added his son, Gavin.

"This idea came from my children," Jeff said. "With the right chemistry - a phenomenal neighborhood that supports this and an organization that does incredible things, St. Jude - all that comes together to get us to where we're at today."

Nearly a thousand homes across the country now join in, raising money for pediatric cancer care.

"The past couple of years, we've had close to a thousand partner homes that do the same thing," Jeff said. "And then the donations have come in from thousands."

Families from Tennessee to north Raleigh have joined after hearing about the effort online.

"My wife heard about it on Facebook," one participant said. "We've been decorating for years, and it was a way to give back to families going through one of the roughest times anybody could."

This year, Skeletons for St. Jude is on track to raise over $1 million.

"It's very surreal," Jeff said. "My kids who came up with the idea have now seen what an idea can become through hard work and generosity."

"I think they really want to help out and join in with a good cause," Gavin said. "No one can make fun of you for raising money for kids with cancer whose parents can't pay for it."

From skeletons to St. Jude, the Robertsons are proving that Halloween spirit can change lives.

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