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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Country singer Darius Rucker raised $425,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at his event in Nashville this past week, bringing his total raised for the organization over 10 years to $2 million.

Rucker’s annual “Darius & Friends” benefit concert has been going on for the last 10 years. This year’s total was a record for the event.

Rucker said he was inspired to start the benefit event after visiting the hospital a decade ago.

“I was struck on that first visit by how St. Jude not only cares for their patients, but also their patients’ families,” Rucker said. “They believe that a financial burden is the last thing a family should face when their focus needs to be on helping a kid get better, and St. Jude makes sure that their patients never pay a dime. It’s an honor for us to be able to help them continue such an important mission.”

The event included the benefit concert and a corresponding golf tournament and silent auction.

The fundraising event is an unofficial kickoff to the Country Music Awards festival in Nashville.

More than 2,400 people attended Rucker’s concert, and other acts to join him on stage included Jimmie Allen, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Sheryl Crow, Travis Denning and Brett Young.