MASSENA -- Massena Memorial Hospital Foundation’s 26th Radiothon on Friday, May 15, is raising money for the 50-bed hospital’s Endoscopy Department.

The radiothon is the largest fundraiser that the MMH Foundation, the sole fundraising source for the hospital, holds each year. It will be broadcast locally on 1340AM-WMSA with additional audio coverage on Time Warner Cable’s channel 30, and through the foundation’s website, www.mmhfoundation.net. And all eight of WMSA’s sister stations – WVLF and WRCD in Massena, WNCQ, WPAC and WYSX in Ogdensburg, and Froggy 97, Z93 and 790 WTNY in Watertown – will join in the promotion of the event.

Each year this event raises money to purchase much needed equipment for various departments throughout Massena Memorial Hospital, according to Event Coordinator Julianne M. Fowler.

“This year, our efforts focus on the Endoscopy Department. At the top of our ‘Wish List’ are two high-definition colonoscopes,” Fowler said.

The new colonoscopes were chosen as the foundation’s goal this year for several reasons, Fowler said.

• Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and one of the most common cancers among New Yorkers. It is estimated that 1 in 20 people will develop colorectal cancer in their lifetimes.

• Statistics show that on average 4700 women and 4900 men in New York are diagnosed with colon cancer each year and about 34 percent of those people will not survive

• About 1.6 million Americans suffer from a form of inflammatory bowel disease – including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Most patients with IBS are diagnosed before the age of 35

• Massena Memorial Hospital has a state of the art endoscopy suite, and a gastroenterologist, three surgeons and an internist that perform upwards of 60 procedures per week.

Massena Memorial Hospital has one of the North Country’s top endoscopy suites, Fowler said, “and we appreciate the opportunity to support a department that affects so many patients in our community. “

Information on how to make a tax-deductible donation to the foundation can contact Fowler at 769-4273 or jfowler@massenahospital.org.

More information is at www.mmhfoundation.net.