The 12th annual Stater Bros. Charities K-Froggers for Kids Radiothon on September 11 and 12 was, to most, an opportunity to raise funds for Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.
But for 9-year-old Aubrey Gaines it was a chance to get out of the house and show everyone how important the fundraiser was to her and her friends on unit 4800—the pediatric hematology/oncology unit. This was Aubrey’s first time out in an open, public place since her diagnosis.
Aubrey was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia—cancer of the white blood cells—on December 6, 2012, and has been in and out of the hospital ever since. She is currently on her fifth round of chemotherapy treatment.
“Needless to say she was thrilled to get out of the house,” said Aubrey’s mom, Krystle Garrison.
Ms. Garrison admits much of the past 10 months has been scarier for her than for her daughter, but she knows they “couldn’t be in a better place. Since day one the doctors and nurses at Loma Linda have been wonderful,” she says. “They always explained everything.”
Aubrey and her mom drove out from their Beaumont home to visit the K-FROG team and radiothon volunteers during the event at Bass Pro Shops in Rancho Cucamonga on September 11. Aubrey was invited to go on the air with radio personality Doug E. Frog to encourage listeners to call in and donate to the hospital.
“It’s important for our listeners to hear the patients who will benefit from the radiothon,” said Harvey Wells, senior vice president and market manager at KFROG. “Aubrey was such a sweetheart, and she even had a great radio voice.”
The Stater Bros. Charities K-Froggers for Kids Radiothon raised $296,058, which will go to support the pediatric hematology/oncology unit as well as other programs at LLU Children’s Hospital.
“Thank you to K-FROG for hosting this incredible event, and to Stater Bros. Charities for its continued support,” says Children’s Hospital administrator Zareh Sarrafian, MBA. “This is all for our patients—the true heroes. To all of those who supported the radiothon, you are making a difference in the lives of children battling cancer at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital.”