On Thursday and Friday, March 5-6, Taste of Country will turn its focus to the kids at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. For a second straight year you'll learn of the heartbreak no one should ever be saddled with, and how country music is making a difference. It's a cause that unites fans of Florida Georgia Line with fans of George Strait. Despite their musical differences, Randy Owen and Chase Rice can palaver over the importance of this special place.

Individual contributions provide the majority of St. Jude's $2 million daily operating costs. On average, over 67,000 patients visit every year, coming from all 50 states and around the world. The staggering results of doctor's research — a 60 percent rise in childhood cancer survival rate in 50 years — is only trumped by the staggering bill families relieve.

There isn't one.

Treatment, world-class care for the kids and their parents, education, travel ... birthday parties — it's all covered so that the only thing a mother and father need to worry about is making sure their child is as comfortable as possible as he or she navigates the difficult road to recovery after being diagnosed with cancer or another life-threatening disease.

Last year Sheryl Crow was nearly brought to tears recalling her most memorable St. Jude moment. Miranda Lambert summed it up by explaining that the hospital "feeds your soul."

Even more powerful was Jack Pavlat's story. His daughter Suzie died after a battle with neuroblastoma, but the soft-spoken Navy man continues to fight in her memory to this very day.

Suzie, and kids like 7-year-old Tyler Bates, are why we're asking for you to become a Partner in Hope during these next two days. A small monthly donation truly goes a long way. Since country radio began the Country Cares program, over $600 million dollars has been raised. Yet Owen — a founding father of Country Cares — says he wants $1 billion before he's gone.

The Taste of Country webathon is in support of deejays at 16 Townsquare Media-owned radio stations asking their listeners to donate to this world-class treatment facility. This year the focus will be on locals families, as it's local radio that's at the heart of the fundraising effort. Together, we're asking a favor: read about one of these families who've been affected, and then share the story with a friend or family member. Of course we'd love if you could donate as well, but by spreading the good work done at St. Jude daily, the money will come.

“No child should die in the dawn of life,” founder Danny Thomas once said. Help make that wish a reality by making a donation or becoming a Partner in Hope when you click the button below. Donations can be made by phone at 800-411-9898.

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