Today and tomorrow, my radio station is conducting our 15th annual St. Jude Radiothon. At various times during the year, country music radio stations across the country hold similar events so you might have heard or heard about this wonderful cause.
Some background:
- Danny Thomas founded the hospital in 1962 and Marlo has continued the cause since Danny’s death in 1991.
- A few years before he died, Danny asked Alabama lead singer Randy Owen if he could mobilize the country music and country radio communities to help raise funds. The rest is history.
Some details:
- When St. Jude’s opened it’s doors in January, 1962, the cure rate for a childhood cancer known as A.L.L. was only 4%; now it’s over 90%. That is just one example of the results of their efforts.
- They are based in Memphis but their work is freely shared with doctors and hospitals across the country.
- Children who end up as patients never get a bill. Whatever insurance doesn’t cover is taken care of.
- Most of their work is with catastrophic childhood illness but they also work with AIDS, Parkinson’s and other more adult diseases.
I have visited the hospital several times and the most vivid image I have is of children with no hair (from the chemo treatments) and tubes in their arms playing with other children. Kids who could be dying are still being kids. It is a positive and surprisingly happy place.
I say all of that to say this: listen to the radiothon online and consider making a donation (www.wmzq.com, keyword st jude). Or look for a similar radiothon on your area this year.
The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a place where miracles are made and it’s because someone like you becomes a Partner In Hope.
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