I recently attended the St. Jude Seminar for the upcoming radiothon to raise money for the amazing work they do in the fight to eradicate childhood cancers. I want to share a little bit with you.

I have participated in the radiothons over the years. I've listened to the stories, have met local patients and parents, but touring the hospital and the many departments have given me a whole new perspective of just what it takes to run such an amazing place.

No patient's family pays a dime for treatment at St. Jude... AWESOME!  However, considering that to run the hospital it costs 2 million dollars a day, it is so important that we try our best to help raise money for these kids. The upcoming radiothon that we will host on 102.5 is historically a very important event and source of income for the Hospital. That shares research and treatment protocols with hospitals and doctors all over the world. FREE.

Photos by Jeff
Photos by Jeff
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The flags are from countries all over the world represented by the many doctors and researchers that do so much at St. Jude. Did you know that the vaccine for the N1H1 virus was created at St. Jude? (True)

Photo by Jeff
Photo by Jeff
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A lot was covered in just a few days, we were in and all around the Hospital. We had break out groups and a special treat was the special guest speaker, Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger. He gave a great presentation and a completely new perspective to the experience he and his passengers had when they landed in the Hudson. I was fascinated with the never before heard audio from the flight. Including audio that was previously censored to the public.

Another highlight was the singer/songwriter night that Alabama front man Randy Owen put together with some great young songwriters. Jessi Alexander was awesome, even though she wrote a Miley Cyrus song, her performance proves that the song "The Climb" is ALL her. Jon Randall, that wrote "Am I the Only One" for Dierks Bentley. They wrote it together huddled around a little space heater on a journey to write a masterpiece and that is what they came up with. Jon did a fantastic version of another of his hit songs that he co-wrote with legend Bill Anderson, "Whiskey Lullaby", with his wife Jessi

Photo by Jeff
Photo by Jeff
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that brought a standing ovation from the audience. Which is kind of weird for a song that is basically a double suicide, but it is a good song and a memorable performance from the couple. Jimmy Wayne was there, and a surprise to me, so was John Oates of Hall & Oats fame. He would do one of his songs

like "She's Gone", then Jimmy would do one of his "classics" and was really funny about it. John and Jimmy did a version of "Sara Smile" that had the crowd on their feet again. It also had Lisa and Me ready to stop at a truckstop on the way home and get a Best of Hall & Oats CD for the drive.

The research has come a long way, and the research done at St. Jude has truly made a difference in so many lives of patients and former patients that it is so emotional to know that it is truly possible that childhood cancer could be eradicated and sooner that you think. In just the last 10 years, survival rates for many childhood cancers has climbed from 50% to 80%, and researchers hope to reach 90%, soon. It is POSSIBLE!

Photo by Jeff
Photo by Jeff
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The research for the facility is almost complete and great strides have been made in the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project and associated research. Amazing things will be coming from this project. Children's lives will be saved with every Partner in Hope for St. Jude.

Band Perry with Jeff / Photo by Lisa
Band Perry with Jeff / Photo by Lisa
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As serious as this trip was, we did get to have some fun eat some good food, and meet some great folks. We met and ate with some good artists, and even better people, like the kids from "The Band Perry".

Now Ms. Lisa did take me out on Beale Street a couple of times. It was an emotional experience that she has been through many times, and she was just concerned about my mental well-being. (Actually, every night we were there she took me to Beale Street, Mentally it did help, but physically, dang). You will get to hear more about of that in some upcoming blog posts. If she allows me to post it. Here's a before and after pic, one night that ended with me in a voodoo shop... and now every now and then, my right arm just shoots up in the air, (???)

Photos by Jeff - Lisa and Jeff on Beale Street (Before and After)
Photos by Jeff - Lisa and Jeff on Beale Street (Before and After)
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Our "Country Cares for St. Jude Kid's Radiothon" is a way for you to be a part of the miracles that happen everyday at St. Jude. Become a partner in hope and help make miracles happen. I believe in Angels. I have seen them, and I have felt them at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. We have seen the miracles that come from the research done there. Please call our hotline number, 870-773-0005 and become a Partner in Hope, or if you can help with a donation of any amount, we truly can stamp-out childhood cancer.

Cancer does not rest, we cannot rest either.

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