Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today
KEARNEY — For over two decades Y102 has been helping raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and are set to hold their “24 Hours of Hope,” event on March 27-28.
For two full days, NRG Media Central Nebraska staff, headed by Y102 hosts “Scotty O” and Lisa Williams, assisted by volunteers, host a telethon from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to help raise funds for children in need.
Last year, the event raised a record breaking $326,423. Over the past 23 years, $4,102,810 has been raised by the radiothon for St. Jude.
Williams has been involved in the St. Jude radio event for a total of 16 years, with a decade of those being on air.
When asked what stands out to her each year during the event, she said, “the generosity of central Nebraska is amazing.”
There is a group of around 20 volunteers who help to make things happen, with five people manning the phone lines, always taking calls. Williams said some people volunteer for an hour, while others are on the lines all day.
Several volunteers are families who have benefited from St. Jude and return each year to help raise funds for the hospital.
Williams said that the event is about more than just fundraising but helping to raise awareness about the latest development at St. Jude. She said it helps people to know where their donations are going.
She said it makes it feel like everyone is in the fight against cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Williams said she most recently visited St. Jude in October 2024 during the 30th anniversary of the County Cares event.
“Country Cares for St. Jude Kids®, one of the most successful fundraising campaigns in radio history at more than $800 million over 30 years, began when Alabama lead singer Randy Owen challenged the country community to rally around St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” according to the St. Jude website.
Williams said she was able to meet Addie Pratt, who was once a patient at St. Jude but had dreams of a singing career.
“In 2020, the then-college freshman harmonized beautifully with country music megastar Brad Paisley in the studio and onstage during a network television special, singing “Alive Right Now.” The song honors the lifesaving work being done at St. Jude,” per the St. Jude website.
“Pratt lives in Nashville, where she works for ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude. Addie is still writing and plans to release new music this year,” per the St. Jude website.
Williams said she has followed Pratt’s story over the years.
Last year, the Y102 event raised a record-breaking number. When asked about the high amount of giving from the central Nebraska community, Williams said everyone knows someone who has been impacted by cancer, with local families directly benefiting from the hospital.
“When central Nebraska comes together, they make a huge difference,” Williams said.
“The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay,” per the St. Jude website.
“Unlike other hospitals, the majority of our funding comes from individual contributions. And thanks to generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food,” per the website.
St. Jude’s research over the years has proven pivotal in the treatment of disease.
In 1966, a group of St. Jude patients were the first acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to ever be successfully taken off therapy. In 2006, St. Jude reported a 94 percent survival rate for patients with ALL using therapy that does not include radiation.
By 2019, St. Jude announces a cure for SCID-X1, commonly known as bubble boy disease. By combining gene therapy and low-dose chemotherapy with busulfan, immune function is restored in infants with the disorder.
