Radiothon Benefits St. Jude Hospital

Listeners to KZMQ-FM today have an opportunity to contribute to a worthwhile effort that helps kids all over the world who are facing catastrophic diseases.

Country Cares for St. Jude Kids is one of the most successful radio fundraising events in America. Since the program began in 1989, nearly 200 radio stations across the country have participated and raised $550 million in pledges for the children of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Anne Dewire, a regional development representative for St. Jude based out of Denver, says that the Big Horn Radio Network and its sister stations in Wyoming have together raised over $1,000,000 through the annual Country Cares radiothon.

The budgeted daily operating cost of St. Jude is $2.4 million, and more than 75 percent of the budgeted costs of St. Jude are covered by public contributions – only 12 percent of the money to operate the hospital comes from insurance recoveries. And on average, over the last three years, 83 cents of every dollar received has supported the research and treatment at St. Jude.

An important note for families whose children receive treatment from St. Jude is that they will never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food. And when the average cost for treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common form of childhood cancer, is more than $485,000 over a two to three year treatment plan, every dollar raised through private donations counts. St. Jude sees around 7800 patients each year.

Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened more than 50 years ago. In addition, St. Jude has achieved a 94% survival rate for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, up from 4% in 1962. And St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs it makes, which means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. St. Jude has treated children from all 50 states, including Wyoming.

Tune in to KZMQ, 102.3 FM, until 6 p.m. today to be a part of the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids fundraiser.