WDEZ Brand Manager Bill Fox getting the studio ready for the Country Cares for Kids Radiothon. MWC photo by Mike Leischner
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — For the 21st consecutive year, the team at Great Country 101.9 WDEZ will be asking you to open your wallets for a worthwhile cause.
The Country Cares for Kids Radiothon begins Thursday at 6 AM to benefit the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. WDEZ’s Chandra Lynn says the hospital may be over 750 miles from Wausau, the impact from the work they do is still felt here at home.
“Whether you have children yourself, grandkids, you’re an aunt or an uncle, at some point there are kids in your life they could touch at any time,” said Lynn. “There are families in Wisconsin who have been affected by cancer and have used St. Jude. [Others have had children] treated for cancer locally, but the protocols came from St. Jude.”
She says that’s because breakthroughs that come from St. Jude are shared with the global medical community.
Lynn adds that during the two-day event they will tell stories of families that have been helped by St. Jude. That includes Wausau’s own Claire Hornby, who died after battling a rare brain tumor. “She had quite the fight. She made it beyond their expectation, and in her short time here she made such an impact. As her mom would say she just loves how Claire’s light continues to shine. People really grasped her, they connected with Claire.”
RELATED: Wausau community celebrates Claire Hornby’s life
Listeners can make either a one-time donation or sign up to be a Partner in Hope, which involves a monthly donation of $19. Donations go to fund the research done by the doctors at St. Jude and the expenses for families.
“They don’t pay for anything, they get housing and food because the only thing they want the families to focus on is taking care of their child and giving them the best love that they can while they are going through that fight,” said Lynn. “St. Jude does not send them a bill.”
WDEZ will be broadcasting live from 6 AM to 6 PM on Thursday and Friday. Lynn says their goal is to match last year’s total of around $185,000.
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