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Shands for Kids Radiothon 2008 has been rescheduled for September 3-5. We are still looking for volunteers and Raiders of the Loose Change. Join us on September 3-5 as a Radiothon volunteer. The 2008 Radiothon will once again be LIVE from the Atrium at Shands at the University of Florida. The event will take place on Wednesday, September 3 and continue through Friday, September 5 with a local phonebank to take pledges. Joining us in this event are a special team of friends from 98.5 KTK and News/Talk 97.3 The Sky. Together, we will help build awareness and raise funds for the kids at Shands Children’s Hospital at UF. You’ll enjoy the funny antics of the Storm Roberts Show, share your views with the Bob Rose Show, get crazy with the Drive Time Happy Hour with Chip Morris & Mr. PC, and even listen to a few tunes. But most of all, you’ll be inspired by the stories of the children treated at Shands Children’s Hospital. There will be familiar faces and a few new ones to become acquainted with during the three-day event. With your help, we can make this a memorable event. We are looking for great volunteers to dedicate time and energy to assist with the 2008 Radiothon. Each volunteer will receive a special, limited edition, 2008 Radiothon t-shirt. To sign up as a volunteer please contact the Office of Development at (352) 265-7953 or (800) 284-6472 with questions regarding the event or contact us via e-mail at frienm@shands.ufl.edu. Click here to sign up as a Raider of the Loose Change, check your Raider account or support a Raider. Make an online donation to support Radiothon

Samantha was born with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), a complex genetic disorder, which affects appetite, growth, metabolism, learning ability and behavior. Newborns with PWS are described as “floppy” and are unable to obtain sufficient nutrients they need to survive due to poor muscle tone. Samantha struggled during her early years and as she grew older, as a result of PWS, she developed an interest in food and rapidly gained excessive weight. Samantha’s extremely poor muscle tone and involuntarily urge to eat excessively put her at risk for obesity. Her lack of strength and muscle tone make normal activities enjoyed by other kids, such as running or biking, a challenge for Samantha. Through her search to improve Samantha’s quality of life, her mother decided to bring her to Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida for treatment. Samantha has been on growth hormones for some time now and while she is improving slowly, Samantha and her family know that she has a long road ahead of her. In addition to her physical condition, Samantha has been in therapy for her speech and behavior and her communication skills are greatly improving. Due to her progress, she now enjoys playing basketball in her back yard and playtime with her dog, Pepper. Samantha and her family, along with a team of UF physicians and Shands Children’s Hospital staff, hope to one day find a cure for Prader-Willi Syndrome.