RADIOTHON TUESDAY TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR MEMPHIS HOSPITAL

From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, the Cape Girardeau Jaycees, in cooperation with K103 FM, will try to surpass the $23,400 they raised last year to benefit St. Jude Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

The K103 Cape Girardeau Jaycee St. Jude Radiothon is the largest fund-raising event the Jaycees conduct every year.

"We used to have two days to collect donations, but last year and this year we only have one," said radiothon co-chairman Linda LeGrand. Jackie Ahrens also chairs the event and Julie Dement is serving as this year's food chairman.

The Jaycees did pre-calling phoning people who have given in the past to solicit donations on Thursday and Sunday to make up for the loss of the day.

About 20 Jaycee volunteers will work one-hour shifts answering phones Tuesday in the lobby of K103 studios, at 324 Broadway.

K103 will do a live remote broadcast from JC Penney in the West Park Mall throughout the day, culminating in an auction at 6 p.m. for a guitar signed by several country music stars, including George Jones, Marty Stuart, Aaron Tippen, Dan Seals and Garth Brooks.

The guitar was donated to the event by Shivelbine's Music Store in Cape Girardeau. K103 has arranged for a professional auctioneer from Poplar Bluff to auction off the guitar Tuesday evening. All proceeds will go to the St. Jude.

"Tuesday is going to be an all-hands-on deck kind of day," said Kent Crider, afternoon radio personality of K103. "Whoever isn't on the air is going to be out at (West Park Mall).

"The format is going out the window Tuesday," Crider continued. "We're going to concentrate solely on raising money for St. Jude."

K103 will have a fish bowl at the JC Penney location for walk-up donations.

St. Jude Research Hospital is primarily supported by funds from volunteer contributions and federal grants. The hospital also receives money from insurance and investments.

The hospital describes itself as a haven of healing for stricken children, a source of hope for disparing parents and a shining beacon of light on the darkest of medical mysteries - the maladies which kill or cripple children.

St. Jude is open to children meeting its medical requirements regardless of race, religion or personal finances. Patients must be referred by a doctor, have an illness the center is studying and the child must not have begun extensive medical treatment. St. Jude will only accept patients who are 18 years of age or younger.

Once a patient is accepted, treatment is provided regardless of the patient's ability to pay. The hospital will also provide transportation and lodging for both child and parents.

A majority of the children are treated on an out-patient basis.

The scientists and medical doctors at St. Jude place a strong emphasis on the sharing of knowledge within and outside the facility. It is their belief that research is of little use unless it is shared with others.

Those wishing to donate money to the St. Jude Research Hospital should call 335-3777 on Tuesday, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., or should stop by the K103 booth at JC Penney in the West Park Mall.