An Open Letter To You, GNA Nation: HOPE Is Everything

We are about to embark on our 2 most important days of the year at GNA, with one goal in mind: to give hope to kids fighting the battle of your life.

"If you don't have hope, you don't have anything." - A quote from St. Jude Patient Melanie

Here I am again on the eve of 107.7 GNA's Country Cares For St. Jude Kids Radiothon, presented by Dom's Pizza, Subs, and Wings, and even though this will be my 7th time taking part in this life-changing event, I still have trouble finding the words to make sense of my emotions. I think it is because each time we jump into this event, I shut out all the other noise in my life and lock in with extreme focus on what these next 2 days are all about: doing the best job I can on the radio to help St. Jude kids fight cancer. And that is when I lose the words to make sense of it all. It breaks my heart that so many young, innocent lives are still affected by this disease. You will feel the same way as you listen to our radiothon over the next 2 days.

But like I do every year, you will start latching on to one word over the next 48 hours: HOPE.

You will hear the stories of little warriors kicking cancer's ass. Pardon my language, but it's true. These kids are a thousand times tougher than you and I can ever dream of being. Their stories will bring you HOPE.

You will also hear heartbreaking stories of parents who lost their little ones way to soon, but yet, that word - HOPE - will still resonate. Even through all the pain of their loss, they are still so thankful that St. Jude exists and gave them HOPE. Their stories will bring you HOPE as well.

And do you want to know the amazing and beautiful thing? All that HOPE for St. Jude kids & families is created by YOU and ME and all of us in GNA Nation.

So I invite you to join us all day this Wednesday and Thursday as we raise money to support the lifesaving research and treatment at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. I invite you to listen and hear the powerful stories from the kids of St. Jude. I am 100% sure if you open your heart and your ears to their voices and stories, you will find your 'why' to pick up your phone to call and give HOPE.

You will hear this phone number a lot over the next 2 days: 1-800-372-4999. That's the number to call to become a Partner in Hope for only $19 a month. We HOPE you will join us in the fight against childhood cancer.

Most importantly, together we will give HOPE to kids fighting the battle of their lives. By becoming a Partner In Hope, you will not be just donating money to a cause. You will be the HOPE the breaths life into St. Jude kids everyday.