Radio Stations Visited St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to Kick Off Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids® Radiothon Season

More than 70 radio stations across the country attended training seminar

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Oct. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- About 180 record label management, radio station general managers, promotions staff, national sales managers, program directors, and on-air staff, including award-winning gospel music artist James Fortune came together this weekend to help kick off the Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids® radiothon season for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, one of the world's premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other deadly childhood diseases.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111017/DC87970)

More than 70 radio stations, including Clear Channel, toured the hospital to meet with patients to learn about the latest medical advancements and receive tips on producing a successful radiothon to help raise awareness for St. Jude.

Attendees also met with some of the patients and their families to hear their stories and learn why this is such a critical program for the mission of the hospital. The weekend concluded with the annual radio station dinner and a special performance by award-winning gospel music artist James Fortune, who also serves on the Radio Cares advisory council, and St. Jude teen patients Jacquail and Stephanie.

Listeners can get involved with their local radio station and find out when a live radiothon is in their area by visiting www.radiocaresforstjude.org or for just $19 a month, listeners can become a Partner in Hope® by calling the toll free number, 1-800-4STJUDE (1-800-478-5833), or visiting www.stjude.org.

Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids has raised more than $12 million for St. Jude since the program began in 2002. Radio Cares encompasses a variety of formats, such as AC, Oldies, Lite Rock, Urban, Classic Rock, Gospel and more. Over the years, the Radio Cares program has welcomed celebrity supporters such as Hezekiah Walker, James Fortune, Yolanda Adams, Mark Slaughter, Gunnar Nelson, and radio personality Corey "CoCo Brother" Condrey. For information about St. Jude or Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids, visit www.radiocaresforstjude.org.  

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.

SOURCE St. Jude Children's Research Hospital