Wings Radiothon: Cancer fundraiser relying on remote donations this year

The 25th annual Radiothon for Wings Regional Cancer Support will take place on Feb. 4 and 5, and like so many other local events, it’s being retooled to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fundraiser raises money to support cancer patients with expenses such as food, travel and lodging. Even though fundraising has become far more challenging this year, according to Wings Board President Brandann Rohrer, the demand for support from Wings has remained as urgent as ever before.

“The need for our service hasn’t decreased at all, so we definitely need to keep on bringing in revenue,” Rohrer said.

Wings was founded in 1995 by Ray Washtak, a local cancer survivor, and Jennifer Schaffner, a social worker serving then at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

When Washtak sought an experimental treatment in Little Rock, Arkansas, for a rare blood cancer known as multiple myeloma, he had to confront the deluge of extra expenses patients take on when they travel for cancer treatment.

Without the opportunity to get treated in Arkansas, Washtak told the Inter Lake, “I wouldn’t be talking to you right now.”

But even though Washtak was grateful when he finally reached remission, he was nonetheless overwhelmed by the costs of going back and forth from Montana to Arkansas throughout his treatment. “Fortunately my insurance was reasonable, but it did not cover those kinds of expenses cancer patients are faced with whenever they travel,” he explained.

Washtak credited the generosity of the community with helping him shoulder the additional burdens associated with his cancer diagnosis. That experience inspired him to help other local patients facing a similar predicament.

“I have been extremely blessed with the help that I received, that my family received,” Washtak said. “All of this got me to thinking ‘how can I help?’”

THAT WAS 25 years ago. Since then, Wings has hosted an annual fundraiser to provide financial assistance to cancer patients from Flathead, Lincoln and parts of Lake County. Every month, the all-volunteer board reviews applications and distributes funds to people like Washtak.

After a small event the first two years, Wings was able to expand to a 25-hour Radiothon in 1997. Sportsman and Ski Haus provided the venue, and Bee Broadcasting publicized the event live.

The goal was to raise $25,000 in 25 hours, but by the end of the night, the first Radiothon had amassed almost $43,000.

Looking back on the early days, Washtak said he felt blessed, “just knowing that we were able to help so many people in our valley that were dealing with cancer.”

But this year Wings is charting unknown waters as the organization endeavors to keep that legacy alive.

The radiothon is still going on, with some modifications. The usual January date was pushed back in the hopes that COVID-19 vaccination efforts might gain some traction by early February.

The event also had to be moved from Sportsman and Ski Haus in order to accommodate the fundraisers while maintaining a safe occupancy level in the store. This year, the radiothon will be held in a private conference room, and donors are highly encouraged to give to Wings through remote options such as a check or a call.

Rohrer urged donors not to stop by the event to drop off donations like they have in years past.

“That’s going to be a bit of a difference this year for sure,” Rohrer said. “We’re hoping that it’s not going to have a significant effect on the amount raised.”

The fundraiser typically brings in anywhere from $45,000 to $70,000, and Rohrer is hopeful this year’s event will still be in that range.

“We have a lot of supporters that I think are going to donate no matter what,” he predicted.

Learn More

The Wings Regional Cancer Support Radiothon will be held from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Feb. 4 and 5.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, donors are encouraged to send a check to Wings at P.O. Box 7852, Kalispell, MT 59904.

To donate over the phone, call 406-257-WING (9464). There will be no in-person opportunity to drop off donations.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at 758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.