20th Annual Radiothon For Children’s Hospital of Mississippi begins Wednesday

Listen to this article

In the twenty years that ‘The Radio People’ family of stations have held their annual three-day combined broadcast from University of Mississippi Children’s Hospital (formally known as Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital), they have raised in excess of 6.7 million dollars.

Wednesday morning the annual event kicks off the 2021 edition. This year will be slightly different due to COVID concerns, as many of the broadcasters will be coming to their audiences from their normal locations in Meridian, Jackson, and Vicksburg. However there will still be some people manning phones at the Medical Center.

“The first year I was at Batson I didn’t know what to expect. The I had just done an interview with a family and the little girl, and when it was over I thanked the family and the little girl just looked at me. I’m a funny looking guy, I know, but she caught me off guard. She lit up and asked ‘could I hug you?’ I had never been moved like that, and I said, ‘sure!’,” River 101’s Chris Burks, host of ‘The Biscuits and Burks’ radio program said, “Y’all, there was nothing like it and I KNEW in that instant what a magical place that hospital is. Honestly, I’m tearing up thinking about it. I can talk, and talk, but until you see a child’s face who has been there, I’m not sure words can do it justice.”

“Over the course of my radio career this is easily one of the most rewarding things I get to do,” his colleague on KHITS 104.5, Shaggy (Dailon Huskey) added. “To know you can bring a smile to a kids face who is facing something very difficult is awesome, there is nothing better than that!”

We encourage you to support these efforts and contribute if you are financially able. The hospital services the children of the entire state. Please click here to read more about the hospital and the radiothon.