JAYCEES RAISE FUNDS FOR ST. JUDE RESEARCH CENTER

The annual K103 Cape Jaycees St. Jude Radiothon raised more than $38,000 for the children of the research center in Memphis, Tenn., far surpassing the total from the previous year.

"We knew we could do it," said Cape Girardeau Jaycees member Jackie Ahrens, co-chairman of the event. "We're really happy with the total."

The Radiothon started at 6 a.m. Tuesday and culminated in an auction at 6 p.m. at JCPenney for several items, including two front-row tickets to the upcoming Alabama concert and an acoustic guitar autographed by several country superstars.

The event is the biggest fund-raiser conducted by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees every year. It benefits the children treated by St. Jude Research Hospital.

"We can't thank the listeners who called in and donated money enough," Ahrens said. "We want to thank everyone who came out to the radio station, the mall, and who gave money to this worthy cause."

The Jaycees have worked with K103/KZIM on this project since the mid-1970s. Up until last year the event was held over a two-day period. The cutback to 12 hours was a challenge the Jaycees met head-on, raising more money in the past two years than any year hence.

The radio station broadcast the numbers to call in pledges, stories of St. Jude patients and played songs depicting the caring and sharing nature of the event throughout the day. The station also set up a live, remote booth at the West Park Mall in front of JCPenney to solicit donations and to be the site of the evening's auction.

Several local businesses posed challenges to one another to match funds raised by their competitors.

This year's twist to the radiothon was the auction conducted by Poplar Bluff auctioneer Speedy Ketcherside. Several autographed pictures and T-shirts of country music stars were sold for $5-$25. A pair of front-row tickets for the Alabama concert March 14 were auctioned for $160.

The main attraction, "The Star Guitar" - donated by Shivelbine's Music Store and autographed by Clint Black, Garth Brooks, Travis Tritt, George Jones and several other country music stars - sold for $4,000 to an anonymous buyer.

"We want to especially thank the radio station for all their cooperation and help," said Jaycees member Linda LeGrand, co-chairman of the radiothon. "We couldn't have done it without them."

All proceeds of the Radiothon and the auction go to St. Jude's Research Center.

Mary Katherine Gaushell, a representative of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, expressed her appreciation to the Jaycees and the radio station Tuesday night.

"Without these events, St. Jude would not be able to keep doors open and continue its valuable research," she said.

St. Jude has 48 beds, but serves more than 150 patients per day, Gaushell said. "It costs us $215,000 per day to keep our doors open."

Once a patient is accepted at St. Jude, they are treated regardless of ability to pay. If lodgings for the patient and his, her, family are needed, St. Jude will pay for hotel accommodations as long as needed.

"And once you are a St. Jude patient, you are a patient for life," Gaushell said. "Even if a person is over 18, they can come back for any other ailment at any time."

St. Jude is tracking 3,300 patients from around the world. The hospital works to find remedies for the maladies that claim young lives every day.