Spirit of the radio Taylor Barggren puts coins in a collection box during the WAPL Rock for the Kids Radiothon to benefit Children's Hospital of Wisconsin at Simon Bay Park Square Wednesday (photo by H. Marc Larson). Fourth annual radiothon looks like it will be the best year yet By Monique Balas News-Chronicle Jerry Lewis wasn't there, but his spirit certainly was. Wednesday marked the kickoff of the fourth-annual radiothon by WKSZ-FM 95.9 for the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, but this year the station partnered with WAPL-FM 105.7 to raise money locally. WKSZ conducted its fund-raiser at Fox River Mall in Appleton, while WAPL worked the Simon Bay Park Square crowd in Ashwaubenon at its Rock for Kids Radiothon. "We'll break all our records based on what we've seen today," said Denise Hajos, special events manager for the Children's Hospital. She would not say how much money was raised by Wednesday afternoon but said the radiothon has brought in more than $400,000 combined from the past three radiothons. Hajos said no specific monetary goals are set in case people stop giving once the amount is reached. "We just aim to do the best Northeast Wisconsin can do for the kids on our area," she said. Hajos established the fund-raiser four years ago with WKSZ after seeing a similar radio fund-raiser created by a man from North Carolina. She asked the station's owner, Woodward Communications, to partner with the hospital for a similar effort in Northeast Wisconsin. All the money received from the event is used for Northeast Wisconsin children who need specialized treatment - either locally by seeing a Children's Hospital doctor visiting at a local hospital or at the Children's Hospital's Milwaukee location, Hajos said. Donations range from $1,000 to the popular "15 by 12": A $15 donation each month for one year. Volunteer Jeff Tess of Watercare Services said he and the other volunteers helping out Wednesday afternoon had been swamped. Tess's company heard about the event on the radio Wednesday morning and initially called to donate water, but Tess decided to volunteer his time as well. "It's mostly individuals, just people trying to donate to a good cause," Tess said. "Everybody knows somebody who's been touched by the hospital." The event has been a learning experience for Len Nelson of WAPL's newly revived Rick and Len Morning Show. "How much better can it be? We're having fun and in our small way, helping people out," Nelson said. "Sitting in a chair for four days at the mall, we might get a sore butt, but we're not going through what those kids are going through, and they handle it with such grace and courage that it inspires us." FYI: The WAPL Rock for the Kids Radiothon to benefit the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin began at 6 a.m. Wednesday and continues through 7 p.m. Saturday at Simon Bay Park Square, 303 Bay Park Square. Visit during mall hours, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, call 1-866-689-5437 (KIDS) or visit www.wapl.com to make a pledge.