The second annual “Country Cares For Kids Radio-Thon,” sponsored by 101.3 WMCI, will be held all day Friday at Rural King in Mattoon.

The station hopes to raise about $40,000 this year. Money will go towards St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for their fight against devastating childhood diseases.

Last year, even though they really didn’t set a goal, they hoped to raise between $8,000 to $10,000. However, they ended up raising more than $20,000.

“I just began working with the station last year and they sent me to a radio-thon seminar because they wanted to do one,” said promotions director Missy Thorp.

To raise money, the station is asking people to call in pledges and to come out and support its bake sale and auction. Thorp said people are welcome to donate baked goods, auction items or their time to help them throughout the day.

The auction, which will occur just shortly after the radio-thon ends at 8 p.m., will feature items such as an all-star guitar signed by Alan Jackson, Keith Urban and Kenney Chesney as well as blue jeans signed by Brad Paisley and Marshall Faulks football.

“These are unique items,” Thorp said.

A variety of games will also be available for children to play

And during the radio-thon, various country singers will be calling into the station.

“We have a couple of artists calling in and talking with us about their experience (with St. Jude) and what they liked about it,” Thorp said.

The first year, Thorp said they did “pretty good” with the fund-raising.

“We hope to double it, up to $40,000,” she said, adding that she is unsure of reaching the goal because of the bad economy.