Santa Maria radio stations raise thousands for St. Jude

“Your child has cancer” are four of the worst words a parent can hear, and now two radio stations in Santa Maria have joined together to raise money for pediatric cancer research and treatment at St. Jude.

For the last 24 hours, La Ley 100.3 and Sunny 102.5 have been hosting a radiothon, collecting over $100,000 in donations so far as of 4 p.m.

St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital leads the world in cancer research. In fact, since doctors have been working at the Tennessee based hospital, the survival rate for children with pediatric cancer has gone from 20 percent to 80 percent.

The best part? Parents are never given a bill for any part of their children’s stay at the hospital. That includes treatment, housing and food for the whole family.

However, it costs about $2.2 million dollars per day just to keep the doors open. That’s why community partners across the country have gotten together to raise money for the cause.

Santa Maria’s own Olympic boxer, Karlos Balderas, stopped by the event to drop off a pair of signed gloves to a lucky person who signs up to become a Partner in Hope, a monthly donation that helps the hospital.

“It makes me feel good that I’m helping out these people, helping out these kids and giving them a little bit of hope,” Balderas says.

It’s not too late to donate, there are people ready to answer your call until 7 p.m. You can find out more information here.