Steve Wiley Visits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

I recently spent a three day weekend in Memphis, Tennessee.

Five co workers and I attended a seminar called "Country Cares."  The program began in 1989. Randy Owen, of the legendary country band, "Alabama" urged the country music, and country radio industries to get involved in Danny Thomas' fight against childhood Cancer at St. Jude Children's Research hospital.

Our sister station, 97.3 The Dawg participates in their 25th radiothon Thursday & Friday, January 23rd-24th. Hot 107.9 participates for their fourth year. Planet Radio 105.1 and 99.9 KTDY join the fight this year.

The trip was an overwhelming experience for me. We toured the hospital, met patients, attended workshops, and had a little fun.

We heard from Markell Gregoire. He's a 14 year old native of New Iberia, and diehard Saints fan. He announced the Saints' first round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Jack spoke to us at Saturday lunch of himself, his wife and their daughter, Suzanne all receiving cancer diagnoses within a matter of days. Suzanne didn't survive. My napkin became a Kleenex.

When St. Jude opened in 1962, the survival rate for childhood cancer was 4%. It's now 94%.

St. Jude provides whatever a family needs: hospital care, medications, transportation, food and housing. No family ever receives a bill. There's a quote on the gift shop wall from Danny Thomas, "I'd rather a million people give me a dollar, than one person give me a million. That way, a million people have gotten involved." I'm going to ask you to get involved.