Wings effort takes to the airwaves

The Daily Inter Lake

Bright and early Thursday morning, volunteers will be on the phones for the ninth annual Wings radiothon that will be broadcast on all Bee Broadcasting stations.

The radiothon is the major fund-raiser for Wings, a local nonprofit group that provides cancer patients with money for out-of-pocket expenses, such as meals or lodging, incurred while traveling to receive medical treatment.

"That stuff," says Ray Washtak, one of organization's founders, "insurance doesn't cover."

The radiothon runs from 6 a.m. Thursday to 6 p.m. Friday. People can call 257-WING or come by the Kalispell Sportsman and Ski Haus store to make pledges.

The organization hopes to raise at least $86,500, the same amount it raised last year and used to help 162 people.

All of the money raised goes to local cancer patients.

Washtak and other local people started Wings 10 years ago. Washtak is a cancer survivor, so he knew how expensive cancer can be in terms of out-of-pocket expenses alone.

"That's probably the biggest hassle we saw," agreed Jennifer Schaffner, manager of social services at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Washtak spoke with Schaffner and other hospital staffers and they set up Wings to help people in similar situations. The first radiothon, put on during the organization's second year of existence, raised $25,000 in 25 hours. The group has since extended the radiothon length as well as its monetary goals.

"The unfortunate thing," Washtak said, "is that cancer's not going to go away, so the need (for assistance) is always going to be there. And in order to help, we're going to need help."

The radiothon will be broadcast on B-98, KDBR, KJJR and KKMT radio stations.