The 26th annual B100 St Jude Radiothon kicked off Thursday morning at 6 a.m. and will continue on Friday.

The two day event raises funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital so families don't have to pay for treatment, travel, housing or food while their child is receiving treatment.

To donate, you can call 800-779-5121 by visiting b100.com or by texting B100 to 626262 to be sent a link to donate.

B100 listeners have donated over $5.1 million over the last 25 years.

Deb Miles and Jim Mackey, of Mackie and Miles in the morning,  explained why they participate in the radiothon every year.

“These kids are there fighting for their lives and they always have a smile on their face. They’re very hopeful, very encouraged and that’s the reason we do this year after year after year," said Mackey said.

"It's something that we as a genre, as country music, we as people in this industry have embraced it and love it because once you go to St Jude where you hear a story about St Jude's Research Hospital, you're going to fall in love too. This is a hospital like no other," Miles said.

The radiothon goes until 7 p.m. on Thursday and will run from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday.