Starting this Thursday, 97.5 Y Country will be raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with its 20th annual St. Jude Radiothon.

Y Country’s Jonny Reinhardt tells us the crew will be broadcasting live from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. both Thursday and Friday to take donations for the hospital that treats childhood cancer, free of charge.

“We will be spending some time telling stories about patients and their families and the struggles that they’re going through, but more importantly, how we can help and how we can become partners in hope,” Reinhardt said.

To be a Partner in Hope costs just $19 per month, and that money is well-spent. Reinhardt says families with children being treated at St. Jude don’t have to pay for anything, whether it’s lodging, travel, or food.

Over the years, Y Country has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for St. Jude, including the $45,000 raised last year. Reinhardt says the radiothon is exhausting, but it really pays to see the giving spirit of Southwest Michigan.

“The generosity of this community is so awesome. I mean, we never set a goal, a dollar amount. We just want to get as many partners and help as we can in the two-day radiothon.”

The radiothon will be live on the air Thursday and Friday all day. You can listen and call in to make a donation, or you can donate at 975YCountry.com.