Five-year-old Evelyn has had a long journey already in her short life, as she was diagnosed with cancer at just 5 months old. After a short stint at another facility, her parents took her to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for treatment, and she is now celebrating two years since her last chemo treatments.

WKDQ in Evansville, Ind., talked to Evelyn’s father Adam Willis about her story and what it means to them to have reached this point.

“We are just eternally thankful to St. Jude. It’s just the best place we could imagine going to,” he insists. “They really took care of you, the children and the parents. It’s a real wonderful place."

Evelyn is not officially in remission yet, but the doctors say she is doing well. Several country stars have recently visited St. Jude and are helping spread the word about the great work the organization does for children and their families, as well as research in the medical community. No parent has to pay for treatment at St. Jude, so the hospital is always in need of support from others to keep the facility going.

“They’d rather a million people donate one dollar than one person donate a million dollars,” said newcomer Brooke Eden after visiting St. Jude. “So whenever someone gives you the opportunity to donate a dollar, or three dollars, or five dollars at the grocery store or wherever you are, donate. Don’t ever think any amount is too small."

Charles Kelley and Drake White also visited the hospital, and Kelley said it meant even more to him, as at the time, he was preparing to become a father. White was blown away by the staff and medical team’s commitment to the children and the cause of advancing medicine to help those children.

“These kids are not numbers. They know them by name. They know their families. There’s no competition; it’s all one cause, all one goal,” White said.

Watch Evelyn’s full story in the video interview above with WKDQ.

On March 3 and 4, Taste of Country will join 15 Townsquare Media stations in support of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This two-day web and radiothon aims to raise money and awareness for the world class research and treatment facility in Memphis, Tenn. Now in its third year, this collaborative effort has raised nearly $2.5 million. Country radio has helped raise more than $550 million during 26 years worth of Country Cares radiothons. The mission is simple: raise money, save lives. 

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