Donate to the gas card program

March 10, 2008

Sports Talk 1050 WTKA to host radio-a-thon for C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital on March 13

Event to benefit program that supplies gas cards to patients and families

Ann Arbor, MI – On Thursday, March 13, Ann Arbor Radio’s Sports Talk 1050 WTKA (1050 AM) will host a special radio-a-thon event for the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital to raise funds for gas cards for Mott patients and their families.

For the gas card radio-a-thon, WTKA’s Sam Webb and Andy Evans will host their show, “The Michigan Insider,” live at Mott from 6 to 10 a.m. on March 13.

Listeners can tune in to 1050 AM to hear Mott physicians, nurses and social workers discuss the increasing need for gas cards among Mott patient families from all socio-economic backgrounds. In addition, WTKA, along with Ann Arbor Radio’s W4 Country (102.9 FM) and 107one (107.1 FM), will air interviews throughout the day with Mott patients and families who use the gas card supplied by Mott for health care travel expenses.

High gas prices continue to put the squeeze on how many parents are managing health care for their children – either in getting to health care visits or purchasing medications. In fact, according to a recent report by the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, 6 percent of parents have postponed a medical visit or buying medication for their children due to high gas prices.

As the result of increasing gas prices and the Michigan economy, Mott is struggling to meet the demand by its patients and their families for gas cards.

During the past four years alone, expenses for the gas card program at Mott – managed by the U-M Health System’s Guest Assistance Program – has increased by more than 700 percent.

This program – which relies on the generosity and support of the community – is designed to help patient and families with extra expenses during their outpatient and inpatient visits to U-M hospitals. Processes are in place for the gas card program, as well as other gift card programs run by UMHS’ Guest Assistance Program, Child and Family Life Department, and Department of Social Work, to ensure appropriate distribution of donated gift cards to patients and their families.

To help support the gas card program at Mott during the March 13 radio-a-thon, visit www.mottchildrenshospital.org or www.wtka.com
The Sports Talk 1050 WTKA broadcast area covers all of Washtenaw County, North to Flint, South to Ohio, East to Detroit and West to Jackson. To listen online, visit www.wtka.com.