RADIOTHON RAISES FUNDS FOR ST. JUDE'S HOSPITAL

Radio listeners across the region helped raise $66,000 for St. Jude's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., during a 12-hour radiothon Tuesday. Last year's radiothon raised about $70,000.

Listeners to KEZS/K103 participated in the "Country Cares for St. Jude's Kids" fund-raising event for the children's hospital. Callers from throughout Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois offered donations ranging from $5 to hundreds of dollars, said Kent Crider, program director at KEZS.

Crider said he was pleased with this year's response, adding that many stations run the fund-raising event over two days.

"A lot of businesses collect money year-round then bring it in during the radiothon," Crider said. "At factories they pass the hat, organizations hold bake sales, dances or car washes, people collect money, then bring it in for St. Jude's."

He said nearly 150 listeners chose to participate in the St. Jude's Partners in Hope program, where they pledge to donate $20 a month for a year.

K103's usual country music programming was scrapped for the day, and instead listeners heard stories from children and families, many of them from Missouri, who have or are now receiving care at St. Jude's, a research and treatment center for catastrophic childhood diseases.

The station also played spots from country stars like Pam Tillis and Travis Tritt, who support St. Jude's, as well as fulfilling music requests from donors.

St. Jude's opened in 1962 and has been treating patients, mostly young cancer patients, since, regardless of their ability to pay for treatment, said Scarlett Krumrey of St. Jude's.

It takes about $150 million a year to operate St. Jude's and much of that comes from donations, such as those made Tuesday, Crider said.

Krumrey said it's not too late to donate for those who missed Tuesday radiothon. Donations can be dropped off at KEZS.