PEORIA, Ill. – For a second day in a row, country music will help out the patients at Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital on Friday.
The “Country Cares for Saint Jude” radiothon began Thursday on Midwest Communications’ 104.9 the Wolf. The Wolf’s John Young and Mike Stechman spent 12 straight hours on the air Thursday, and will stay on the air Friday until 6:00 P.M. to raise awareness and money for the hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
Young says the money raised will help fund research, and helps families cover bills and basic needs during a trying time.
“Don’t have to worry about ‘Well, do I pay rent or do I pay for my kids’ meds? Do I pay to keep the lights on? Do I have gas money to my kid to the hospital?’” Young said. “They don’t have to worry about anything like that.”
Young says the average bill a family would see can be between $400,000 to $550,000.
Young says his favorite moments each year are talking to survivors and their families, but the ones who have had the biggest impact are the ones who did not make it, such as Dax Locke and Lexi Helfrich.
“When you get to know them personally, it hits you like a ton of bricks. But it also makes you want to work that much harder next year to raise awareness and make even more money so we don’t have parents burying their kids,” Young said.
Stechman says he has been a part of at least 20 “Country Cares for Saint Jude” radiothons so far, and hopes they can raise even more for the kids at St. Jude’s this year than last year.
2024′ radiothon raised just over $70,000. Young says he and Stech never really have a set goal, but aim for $70,000 to $75,000.
To be a Partner in Hope for St. Jude with 104.9 The Wolf…you can call 800-566-9690, or TEXT 62-62-62.
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