The Red Cross Children’s Hospital radio station RX Radio, is tirelessly fighting to stay on the airwaves; the NPO only has one month left to make it happen!
Cape Town, South Africa (11 April 2023) – RX Radio is a beloved, award-winning, radio station housed in the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, that is presented by children with chronic health conditions, their friends and siblings. Listeners are children, youth, the hospital community and the public in general.
The station’s mission is to spread positivity, create awareness around health conditions, share important news stories and provide entertainment around the clock to comfort their many listeners in hospital wards and public spaces in South Africa and around the globe.
RX Radio broadcasts 24/7, providing live and pre-recorded programmes (including shows, music, podcasts, and radio diaries) to their young listeners.
Since 2016, RX Radio has trained 135 Children and Young Reporters between the ages of 4 and 18, who are curious about the field of radio broadcasting.
Last year, November 2022, the station started campaigning to raise the funds needed to operate for another year. The station is facing a shortfall in funding that could take them off the air for the first time in 5 years.
The station is in dire need of raising R2.2 Million, to secure their operational costs for the next 12 months, and take care of its exceptional team, which consists of 4 full-time staff members, an intern, a mentor and volunteers who work behind the scenes to make the magic happen.
With the launch of a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, RX Radio hopes to receive donations from their loyal listeners, philanthropists, open-hearted members of the public and compassionate corporates, which will allow the station to be more sustainable for generations to come.
Thankfully, a private donor from the US has committed to donating $30 000 (+- R450 000) for 2023, to keep the historic radio station on the air for the time being, but without additional support, the station could face indefinite closure.
Since sharing the story in November, the team has not had much success in fundraising further. They have managed to push the total raise to just over R480,000 but its not enough to cover the full year’s expenses. At this point, they will be closing doors in the coming month.
A Two Oceans Hero
Johandie De Kock has committed to helping raise funds for the station by dedicating his Two Oceans race to the cause.
The station is now challenging nine more runners to join Johandie under the RX Radio flag. While there isn’t much time left until the big race, they hope that in the spirit of charity and giving back, the Muslim community will use Ramadan to pledge to the radio station.
If you would like to contribute to the station staying on the airwaves, you can do so via the website here or BackaBuddy here.
If you would like to dedicate your run to the cause, please reach out via email here.
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