Z99 Radiothon is back, helping save babies’ lives

The annual Z99 Radiothon is underway at the Cornwall Centre in Regina.

For 12 hours, hosts Cassity and Wheels are broadcasting live to raise money for the Hospitals of Regina Foundation, in support of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the Rawlco Centre for Mother Baby Care at Regina’s General Hospital.

(Z99/Facebook)

Thanks to generous community support, since the first radiothon in 1987, the Z99 Radiothon has raised $10 million and has provided the NICU with life-saving technology that enhances the medical team’s ability to care for fragile newborns.

“Millions has been raised over these 30-plus years, and we know, on average, 500 babies use the NICU here in Regina every year,” Cassity explained on the Greg Morgan Morning Show.

“Every single year, when this thing goes on, the community rallies around it,” Wheels added.

“Everyone knows someone that benefited from the NICU, and to be there all day and to look the happy ending to the stories in the eye, these babies – that you weren’t quite sure what was going to happen (to) – went to the NICU and now they are living and flourishing at life. It is special stuff.”

Many around the community step up and help raise funds for the event. Cassity and Wheels found themselves pouring McDonald’s coffee at the drive-thru because the proceeds of every sale went toward the radiothon, and Elle’s Café held a Latte’s for Little Ones event to support the cause.

“We want to raise as much money as is humanly possible for this cause,” Wheels said.

“We were talking to the people at the NICU and they were saying they need this money. They budget for this money. It is no longer an added bonus; they rely on it. A lot of the equipment there is at end of life and needs replacing, and this money helps with that.”

You can donate at z99.com.