St Jude Country Cares Radiothon raises $76,821.98

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:

Michaela Lynch

ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

1822 Craig Road, St.Louis, MO 63146

Michaela.Lynch@stjude.org

Southeast Missouri helps K103 and Mississippi River Radio raise $76,821.98 to help save the lives of children fighting cancer and other deadly diseases at St. Jude

Cape Girardeau, MO (03/09/12) -- Radio stations 102.9 K103, Real Rock 99.3, 960 KZIM/1400 KSIM, 92.9 The River and

93.9 KISS FM, and ESPN 1220 and its generous listeners helped raise $76,821.98 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® during its annual Country Cares for St. Jude Kids® radiothon, held 03/01-03/02/12. This marked Mississippi River Radios 22nd year of supporting the families of St. Jude, one of the world's premier centers for the research and treatment of cancer and other deadly childhood diseases.

This year's radiothon highlights included many visits, specifically from our area. St. Jude patient, Katelyn Dannenmueller, who is feeling great thanks to the help of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

"Our family is so grateful for everything St. Jude has done for us," said Pam Essner, Katelyn's mother. "St. Jude gave our family a renewed sense of hope and for that we'll be forever thankful."

Katelyn is just one of the tens of thousands of children who benefit from the cutting-edge research and treatment at St. Jude. Funds raised through the Country Cares radiothon are so important in part because St. Jude relies primarily on the public's generosity to support its lifesaving mission. It costs $1.7 million to operate the hospital every day and more than 75 percent of that funding comes from the public.

"For the past twenty two years our loyal listeners and sponsors have called in and helped raise Over $1.1 million to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude," said Scott Richards, General Manager. "We have all either been a child or have children of our own and can relate to Katelyn's touching story that serves as a reminder of the thousands of children still fighting for their lives." Richards continued to say, Mississippi River Radio is so proud to be a part of Southeast Missouri, the overwhelming support of the communities during events like the St Jude Radiothon is such an inspiration. " No words can express our gratitude to our sponsors and listeners who make the St Jude Radiothon successful."

For the past 50 years, St. Jude has been finding cures and saving the lives of children battling cancer and other deadly diseases. In 1989, Country Cares began after Randy Owen, lead singer of the music group ALABAMA, met St. Jude founder Danny Thomas and was inspired to get involved. Out of that meeting, Country Cares has grown to be one of the most successful radio fundraising events in the nation with hundreds of radio station partners raising more than $400 million in pledges.

To learn more about Country Cares for St. Jude Kids or to make a donation today, visit www.stjude.org.

About Country Cares for St. Jude Kids

Country Cares for St. Jude Kids® is one of the most successful radio fundraising events in America. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has been actively involved in radiothon fundraising for more than 30 years. In fact, hundreds of radio stations across the country have helped raise more than $400 million for the life-saving work of St. Jude, and the St. Jude family of partner stations continues to expand.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering research and treatment of children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The hospital's research has helped push overall survival rates for childhood cancer from less than 20 percent when the institution opened to almost 80 percent today. It is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children, and no family ever pays St. Jude for care. For more information, go to www.stjude.org and follow St. Jude on www.facebook.com/stjude and www.twitter.com/stjude.

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