POTSDAM -- Donors contributed more than $8,000 to support hospice care, advanced illness management and grief services in St. Lawrence County during the Hospice Radiothon Dec. 1.

The event was broadcast live from the Hospice Center with veteran radio personalities Tony Lynn and Todd Truax with help from Andy Van Duyne as sound engineer.

Hospice extends its sincerest thanks to Community Broadcasters (WQTK/92.7 FM, WLFK/95.3 FM) and Stephens Media Group (WMSA/1340 AM) for making this live broadcast possible. Hospice also thanks the many stations offering support of the Radiothon including WVLF 96.1, WNCQ 102.9, WYSX 96.7, WPAC 98.7 and WSNN 99.3.

The broadcast included testimonials from county residents who have been touched in one way or another by Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley.

These included friends and family members whose loved ones were cared for by Hospice, volunteers who offer their time to help comfort patients, and community members who have benefited from Hospice’s many support groups.

“We had two goals for the Radiothon,” said Kellie Hitchman, event organizer; “to raise awareness about the nature of the care Hospice provides and to raise funds to support those services. Too often, we hear community members say “I didn’t know Hospice did that.” The day was really about using personal stories to help people understand what the services mean in real life situations and to let them know the full extent of programs offered. We are very grateful to our donors for their generosity and for the chance we had again this year to tell the hospice story over this great network of radio stations. I think the day was a huge success.”

Sponsors played key to the success of the event by adding their contributions. Businesses that sponsored the Radiothon were: A Woman’s Touch, Boyden Brook Body Works, Gouverneur Savings and Loan, Mort Backus and Sons, NBT Bank, St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union, TJ Toyota, Johnston’s H2O Zone and Eben’s Hearth Restaurant. Prizes given out during the Radiothon drawings were donated by Cape Air and Potsdam Food Co-op.