6th Annual Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids® raises more than $1 million to fight childhood cancer, other deadly diseases

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St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Apr 11, 2013, 12:52 ET

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^®channels support of Radio One, Inc., Yolanda Adams, Hezekiah Walker and James Fortune

MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 11, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With efforts led by Radio One, Inc., the largest radio company primarily targeting African-American and urban listeners, nationally syndicated inspiration shows across the country helped raise $1,126,000 so St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^® can continue its research discoveries to save the lives of countless children around the world. Supporters like Yolanda Adams, Coco Brother, Hezekiah Walker, James Fortune and nearly 60 partner stations hit the airwaves on April 4 to help kids fighting cancer, sickle cell and other deadly diseases.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130411/DC93293 )

Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids^® is a radio fundraising event that shares touching stories of St. Jude patients and families, and since 2008, has raised more than $15 million in cash and pledges. GRAMMY Award-winning gospel singer Yolanda Adams helped kick off the celebration at 6 a.m. EST on the Yolanda Adams Morning Show, while Cory Condrey wrapped up the radiothon at 11 p.m. EST with special coverage on the CoCo Brother Live show.

"Our listeners are always so supportive of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and its lifesaving mission," said Yolanda Adams. "Every child should have the opportunity to enjoy life's special moments – big and small – and cancer should not be a child's only defining moment. With the help of my radio colleagues and fans, we are so proud to raise millions of dollars to help save lives."

Adams is referring to children like Kayla who joined other patients to share their St. Jude experiences with listeners across the country. Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood cancer, Kayla is currently being treated at St. Jude. But she hasn't let that stop her from enjoying life's special moments. Kayla is a diva who loves fashion, keeping up with the latest trends and singing. This is all possible today, thanks to research and treatment protocols developed at St. Jude, which have pushed survival rates for ALL from 4 to 94 percent.

"The continued support of Radio One, Inc., the gospel artists and volunteers help St. Jude continue its lifesaving work and offer hope to children like Kayla in communities everywhere," said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "Programs like Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids truly make a difference to the families who walk through our doors every day. Thanks to the generosity of listeners, those families never have to pay St. Jude for anything."

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is where hospitals send their toughest cases of childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. St. Jude shares all of its discoveries and new treatments so that one child saved at St. Jude means thousands saved around the world. Best of all, no family ever pays St. Jude for anything. Families never receive a bill for treatment, and all travel, housing and meals are provided thanks to the generosity of St. Jude donors.

In Atlanta, syndicated radio host CoCo Brother generated more than $320,000 during his four-hour show; which bested his 2012 total of $250,000. Other participating celebrities included gospel artists VaShawn Mitchell, Byron Cage and Crystal Aikin. The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), a coordinating body composed of nine historically African-American, international Greek letter sororities and fraternities, played a large role in managing the phone banks.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Since opening more than 50 years ago, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has changed the way the world treats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. No family ever pays St. Jude for the care their child receives and, for every child treated here, thousands more have been saved worldwide through St. Jude discoveries. The hospital has played a pivotal role in pushing U.S. pediatric cancer survival rates from 20 to 80 percent overall, and is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. It is also a leader in the research and treatment of blood disorders and infectious diseases in children. St. Jude was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, who believed that no child should die in the dawn of life. Join that mission by visiting stjude.org or following us on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.

SOURCE St. Jude Children's Research Hospital