KOLA Cares for Kids Radiothon Raises Nearly $26,000 for LLUCH

KOLA 99.9 FM held the 12th annual KOLA Cares for Kids Radiothon on Friday, Aug. 8, raising nearly $26,000 for Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital (LLUCH). “KOLA continues to make a huge difference for children in our community,” said Jillian Payne, executive director for the LLUCH Foundation. “The entire KOLA team personally gets involved in raising awareness and vital funds for our Children’s Hospital. We are deeply grateful for the support of KOLA and their listeners for helping us provide lifesaving care to our kids.” The station aired the radiothon live from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., during which time listeners could call in, go online or text to donate. LLUCH employees, KOLA talent and other community members volunteered their time to answer phones during the event. LLUCH patients and family members also shared their personal testimonials about being treated at the hospital on the air, including Tierra Harper, mom to now one-year-old Emersyn or “Emmy,” who was transported to LLUCH as an infant after being born nearly three months prematurely with pyloric stenosis. “The muscle connecting her stomach to her small intestines had become thickened and didn’t allow food to exit her stomach,” Harper said of her daughter’s condition. “Although we were very nervous for her to go into surgery,” she continued, “we felt confident in the doctors and surgical team. They were ready to answer any questions we had, talk us through step by step of what would happen during surgery and what we should expect afterwards. It really helped put our minds at ease.” For every $99.90 donated through the radiothon, LLUCH receives a KOLA Bear, which are used during transport and throughout other areas of the hospital to calm a child—and sometimes a parent—in a traumatic situation. The LLUCH transport team considers KOLA Bear part of their team, just like any piece of equipment, and takes them on every call. 500 bears were generated through this year’s radiothon, and over the past 12 years, over $1.2 million has been raised. “Patients like Emmy remind us how important something as simple as a little stuffed bear can mean to a child, or even a parent,” said Gary Springfield, program director, KOLA 99.9 FM. “This radiothon is just one way we can give back to the hospital that does so much for the kids in our community.” During transport, Emmy’s mom received a KOLA Bear for her daughter, which she still has today. “She is a happy and healthy one-year-old. Her strength amazes us everyday.”