Cat Country Cares for Kids Radiothon

A total of $73,505 was raised during the first-ever Cat Country 98.7 Cares for Kids Radiothon in August 2019 at the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart. All funds raised will support the construction of the Bear Family Foundation Pediatric Oncology Center for Hope, the region’s only pediatric oncology center, at the Studer Family Children’s Hospital. Participating radio stations included Cat Country 98.7, Newsradio 92.3 and ESPN Pensacola 94.5. In addition, WEAR-TV 3’s Sue Straughn was on site to interview patients and families. Throughout the event, listeners heard stories of bravery and inspiration from children and families who have benefited from the care and expertise of the hospital’s highly trained physicians and staff. “We are just thrilled about Radiothon’s success this year, and we are looking forward to seeing the development of the pediatric oncology center at the hospital,” said Carol Carlan, president of Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation. “We are so grateful to the community for this amazing support of our community’s children and to our media partners for their compassionate hearts for children fighting cancer.” Morning cohost Brent Lane says “The mission of the Studer Family Children’s Hospital and the mission of Cat Country 98.7 is the same — to serve our local community. We like to be helpers and are proud to join Sacred Heart in helping kids and families right here in Cat Country.”

Fun activities included a dunking booth where Dr. Ramak Amjad, Dr. Shannon Boudreaux, Dr. Jason Foland and Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz got dunked, helping to raise funds as part of the event. Carlan and Will Condon, president of the Children’s Hospital, also endured pies to the face in support of our area’s children. Wind Creek Hospitality matched funds donated up to $20,000. Other sponsors included Pen Air Federal Credit Union, Gulf Winds Credit Union, Whataburger and HatchMark Studio.

The community’s local Children’s Hospital Network Hospital, the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart is a 126-bed facility that serves as the only children’s hospital in Northwest Florida. The Children’s Hospital offers a wide range of services to meet all of a child’s medical needs, from a pediatric emergency room and neonatal intensive care unit to pediatric intensive care, cancer care, rehabilitation and a medical staff of more than 120 board-certified doctors across 30 pediatric specialties. The Children’s Hospital provides quality, compassionate care to children, regardless of their parents’ ability to pay. For more information about the services available at the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart, visit StuderFamilyChildrensHospital.com.

To make a gift in support of the Bear Family Foundation Pediatric Oncology Center for Hope, please go to GiveSacredHeart.org/donate.