K-Hawk’s Most Important Two Days Of The Year

If you ask someone who works in radio what the most important thing your station does all year is, you're bound to get a few different answers. Perhaps it's giving away awesome prizes to your loyal listeners. Maybe it's the numerous live broadcasts you do from around the community. Or perhaps it's staying atop the ratings heap despite increased local competition. All of those would be valid answers. But none are MY answer. What's the most important thing we do each year at KHAK? The radiothon for the Children's Miracle Network.

This year marks K-Hawk's 21st radiothon and my 20th personally. 20 years of meeting kids and families at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. Just like the amazing doctors and nurses there, I've seen and heard it all. Stories from families who have been through hell and come out the other side. Kids who have been poked and prodded by procedures and surgeries. Moms and Dads who have never cried in front of their children, breaking down on our Radiothon stage.

Why do we do it? For the kids. It's that simple. The money we raise each year helps kids and their families. We don't pay salaries. We didn't help build the new hospital. The money YOU donate helps fund programs within the walls of that hospital, and those programs help kids. Those amazing, strong, courageous kids. We meet so many every year that you lose track of the names. Some stay with you. The stories are just too powerful, their character too strong. Some stay with you for other reasons. The angels that we have lost over the years enter my mind at some point during every Radiothon. How can they not? They fought just as hard as those who are still here. They deserve to be forever remembered.

So as we approach this year's Radiothon and you're looking for a reason to give, simply think of the kids. Your kids or grandchildren. The kids out playing in your neighborhood each night. Summon up the generosity and compassion to call in and donate to save the life of a child that you probably don't know. There is no greater love you can show. The one line that is uttered every Radiothon by a parent we're interviewing is "I never thought it would happen to us...." No one ever does. That is why we do our Radiothon for the Children's Miracle Network. That is why it's the most important two days of the year.

You'll be able to donate to this year's Radiothon at 800-456-2772 and also online HERE. The Radiothon is Thursday and Friday, August 17 and 18 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days with Courtlin and I live from 6-10 and 2-6 each day.