More than $500,000 raised during national Hispanic radio event benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®

More than $500,000 raised during national Hispanic radio event benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®

Funds and awareness will help St. Jude continue its fight against childhood cancer

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hispanic communities across the country united in support of the annual Promesa y Esperanza(®) (Promise and Hope) radio fundraising event on Oct. 8-9. Hosted by Davidson Media Group, along with other independent radio stations, the two-day event raised funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital(®), which is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnvar/20151102/283053

Over 1,200 callers became Ángeles de Esperanza (Angels of Hope) by signing up to donate $20 a month. Listener donations support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital(®). Because of fundraising programs like this one, no family ever receives a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food - because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.

"Every year I am truly moved by the Hispanic community's passion and support for the kids of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital," said Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "We are thankful for their generosity during this year's Promesa y Esperanza which generated an incredible amount of awareness and funds to help St. Jude continue its pioneering research and exceptional patient care so that we will reach the day when no child dies from cancer."

In all, 20 radio stations in 14 markets participated nationwide. Media markets included Boston, Providence, and Springfield, Massachusetts; Norfolk, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Richmond, Virginia; Birmingham, Alabama; Durham, North Carolina; Louisville, Kentucky; Nashville, Tennessee; Goshen, Indiana; Odessa, Texas; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Kansas City, Kansas.

"The response from our listeners has been overwhelming in the best way possible," said Chris McMurray, president of Davidson Media Group. "The mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is something that our listeners really connect with and they appreciate that no family ever receives a bill from St. Jude - so they can focus on helping their child get better."

During the event, radio listeners heard several heartwarming stories of Hispanic families and patients who are being treated at St. Jude; patients like Sarah. In January of 2015, she had a fever that doctors thought was related to a bladder infection. When the fever persisted and she had pain on her right side by her liver, her mom took her to the doctor again. After a few studies, doctors thought it was an abscess; however, after more tests they found out it was a tumor. Sarah started chemo locally but soon arrived to St. Jude at the end of May to begin treatment. Sarah likes to paint ceramic, make arts and crafts and create jewelry.

Events like Promesa y Esperanza help St. Jude share St. Jude moments, and the cutting edge research and treatment being offered. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs it makes, so every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists can use that knowledge to save thousands more children.

The St. Jude Promesa y Esperanza(®) radio fundraising program began in 1997, with just three participating radio stations. Today, 18 years later, 100 radio stations in 55 markets across the country help raise more than $10 million dollars for the children of St. Jude throughout the year.

For more information about Promesa y Esperanza or to make a donation, visit promesayesperanza.org. or call (800) 998-8432.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. We won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food - because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook (facebook.com/stjude) and following us on Twitter (@stjude).

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151102/283053



SOURCE ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Photo:https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151102/283053
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151102/283053
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

CONTACT: Alex Flores, ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, (901) 572-6905; alex.flores@stjude.org

Web Site: http://www.stjude.org


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