"Finding Cures, Saving Children"

One week from today, I'll be sitting in the lobby of Jordan's Furniture in Reading with a bunch of other volunteers behind the Jelly Belly store. The phones will ring and I'll answer, cheerful and willing to help out those calling even though I'll be straining to hear them over the hustle and bustle of music and people.

That's right - it's time once again for the Country 102.5 Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Radiothon.

Next Thursday and Friday March 13-14, tons of volunteers will arrive and tons more people will call in to offer up one-time donations and become a more "regular" Partner in Hope. Steve and I have been Partners in Hope for the last 2 years, and I have to say that it is so encouraging when we get the pictures in the mail once a month detailing the stories of some of the kids we're helping. It's so heartwarming when you hear the quotes of the parents who are so grateful for the work that St. Jude does for kids around the world on a daily basis.

What does St. Jude do? The short version of it is that they help sick kids get better. Kids with major, catastrophic illnesses - mostly cancers - who without St. Jude would never have a chance to just be kids. They perform crucial research in battling these diseases and the work they have done has helped to greatly increase the chance children have to keep on living once they are diagnosed. I give to St. Jude because I believe that every child deserves a chance to live and BE a child. To enjoy the simple things like afternoon wiffleball games on a spring afternoon, or sledding down a hill on a winter's day, or jumping in leaf piles on a fall Saturday, or swimming in the neighbor's pool with their friends in mid-July. The things that most kids take for granted because they don't realize that there's an alternative.

I'm not going to beg all of you to give to St. Jude, even though I think it's a wonderful cause. I will ask you to give if you can. I'll post the number up here next week as soon as I know what it is so that you can call and add to Country 102.5's tally for the two days. If you don't want to call, and you want to donate, please feel free to go to the link in my sidebar for St. Jude and donate there.

If you can't give financially, there are other things you can do to help children who are suffering from these diseases. You can either pass the word along about the wonderful work that St. Jude is doing to your friends, or you can go to Make a Child Smile and find out how you can send your love to specific children in need of cheer.

Here are some links that you might find helpful.

Country 102.5 2008 Radiothon Site
St. Jude's Homepage
Make a Child Smile



Thanks for reading. If you're interested in a perspective other than my own, here's a perspective written by Tony Sirico (better known as "Paulie Gaultieri" on The Sopranos).