Radiothon's are more than just $'s

Our big Astral Media "National Day of Caring for Kids" Radiothon goes Thursday, April 29th, from 6am to 6pm, coast to coast across Canada - and for those involved for the 'first time' in an event of this magnitude let me tell you some of the 'bonus aspects of the Radiothon.

First off, we will raise 'millions" of dollars for Children's Miracle Network Hospital foundations and many various child related hospitals or organizations. That's our job.

But the 'bonus' part happens in the most personal of manners when you 'get it.'

Let me explain.

The Bear/EZ Rock/Team 1260 in Edmonton has been doing a Radiothon for the Stollery Children's Hospital for the past several years. The team of broadcasters; support staff; and foundation members co-ordinate a most amazing day of fund raising 'inside' the hospital.

A few years ago, when we added the Sports station to the broadcast, one big burly Talk Show host who hadn't done one of these events before gave me a bit of a bad time about why he "had" to do his show from the hospital - in that "it wasn't sports."

We discussed the situation, and we made sure that he knew that the guys he'd be "talking to" on the air we're actually sports personalities. Edmonton Eskimo CFL players; Edmonton Oiler Hockey Players - "Dads."

As the broadcast started one of the families we were dealing with had a piece of equipment called a "Berlin Heart" being used on their child. He was only about six years old and this "plastic looking" heart was keeping him alive while they waited for a heart transplant. As you can imagine the only way he was going to get a new heart would be if there tragically was a death of another child who could provide a 'compatible' organ.

This Berlin heart is visually overwhelming.

Here's how it works:

http://lane.stanford.edu/portals/cvicu/HCP_CV_Tab_1/BerlinHeart.pdf

While interviewing the parents of the child my big burly sports guy welled up with tears. His heart was in his throat. The mother spoke confidently about the process and the child, in fact, was simply playing with one of his toys beside us like it was just a normal day.

When my sports guy finished the interview the family moved on to the FM stations to conduct interviews on those stations and my guy walked over to me - looking me right in the eye and said "Sorry..I get it."

He's a dad of two small children himself and until you sit in an atmosphere like this; expose yourself to the children, the mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, Doctors, Nurses and Foundation members assisting with the cause - you too won't know the magnitude of this amazing day.

The "millions" of dollars are the goal.

The "appreciation' for the incredible people involved in the Health care industry is the bonus.

The 'love' and respect of the parents - says it all.

Thanks for your help guys.

You will sleep with great satisfaction this Thursday.