PEORIA, Ill. — It’s time again to rise up for the children.
The 19th annual “Drive for Miracles” to benefit OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois kicked off Thursday with WMBD sister media outlet 93.3 The Drive.
“The Morning Drive” hosts John Riley and Nancy Flagg broadcast live from the hospital lobby for the duration of the two-day radiothon, 6 A.M. until 5 P.M. both days.
Riley has been a part of the event since its inception.
He said he genuinely believes in the cause.
“You can go anywhere on Earth and not find a better [hospital], only because the community supports it,” he said.
“There’s a school here that runs all the time, because some kids have to be here for sometimes a year at a time, so there’s a school that keeps people up to speed on their classes.
“In a lot of places, medicine is the healing agent. Here, medicine and play are the healing agents, because it’s children, so there are people who specialize in distracting kids in helping them in playtime.”
The 2018 edition of the fundraiser raised nearly $250,000.
The goal for 2019 was set at $300,000.
Overall, the event has raised over $4 million over the years.
