HARRISONBURG, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – Harrisonburg Media Group is set to the inaugural Valley Cares for Kids Radiothon this Thursday, Sept. 26.

All the proceeds raised from the 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. event will benefit UVA Health Children’s.

According to Erin Chandler, UVA Health’s associate director of development, the initiatives that will be supported include patient and family-centered care programs as well as pediatric research to find new treatments and cures.

“These funds raised throughout the Community are going to support so many different aspects of the care that we’re providing over here at UVA,” Chandler said. “It’s really important for us not only to provide critical care, but to also provide for the basic needs that families have while they’re with us.”

Those needs include anything from lodging to transportation or new car tires, car seats, gas cards or food resources. Chandler added that the extra help can go a long way for many of the families with UVA Health Children’s are low income.

“Many of our families are experiencing some sort of financial strife and need support in those areas or working a job,” Chandler said. “And when your child is being seen for months on end at the hospital? There’s a lot of things that kind of fall below the line, and so we’re here to help make them whole while they’re with us and community support and philanthropy is what helps us do that.”

The radiothon will feature stories from UVA Health Children’s patients, their families and their care providers. The radiothon will be aired on eight of Harrisonburg Media Group’s stations:

There will be several ways to give on Thursday – such as calling 434.924.1172, texting VALLEYKIDS to 51555 and through a link on RocktownNow.com and the other participating station’s websites.

Volunteers will also be needed Thursday for the live phone bank in Harrisonburg to answer calls and process donations. Interested community members can register online for a two-hour session.