The Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority recently held their St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital Radiothon on 100.9 ALEX FM WALX in Selma on March 13.

It appears like they beat their goal of $18,000. Sorority President Kathy Smith, who joined several several on-air radio personalities, said this has been an annual fundraiser for the organization.

“So many families have been affected by cancer, and St. Jude’s is one of the leading cancer research hospitals around the world,” Smiths said. “We are so honored that 100.9 ALEX FM would team up with us to do this fundraiser every year.”

Paul Alexander, owner of Scott Communications which owns ALEX FM and eight other radio stations, said they were happy to assist with the radiothon. In addition to it being broadcast on the flagship station, they also aired the radiothon on their other stations throughout the day.

“We are so happy that we can help them with such a worthy cause,” Alexander said. “We are proud to partner with Epsilon Sigma Alpha to do this every year for such a great organization like St. Jude.”

One special guest visited Selma for the special event. Addie Paige Pratt, a rising country music artist, dropped by to talk about her own experience with St. Jude. She is a cancer survivor and a former patient of the hospital.

One of the best parts of the organization is that patients receive care at the hospital without ever receiving a bill.

“I tried to think about how much my treatments would have cost, and I cannot imagine just how much that would be,” Pratt said. “It would likely be hundreds of thousands of dollars, and we never had to pay one cent for the treatment. That’s what’s so special about the hospital.”

Pratt, a Corinth, Mississippi, native, is now an advocate for St. Jude all around the country.

“This one thing I love to do, and that is to talk about how great St. Jude is,” Pratt said. “You know, the people that make this happen are the people who give only a few dollars a month. It’s not the huge gifts, but it’s the small gifts that families can give to help these families.”

While the radiothon is over, residents can still give to St. Jude by calling 1-800-592-3488.