Cape Town - RX Radio, a beloved, award-winning radio station housed in the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, could soon face closure without public support.
The station, presented by children with chronic health conditions, their friends and siblings, need to raise R2.2 million by the end of the year.
The shortfall in funding could take them off the air for the first time in five years. They have now turned to a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, in the hope of reaching their goal.
“We are in dire need of raising R2.2m by the end of this year to secure our operational costs for the next 12 months and make our station more sustainable for generations to come. With the launch of this crowdfunding campaign, we are appealing to our loyal listeners and members of the public with open hearts, to support us,” the station explained in a statement.
So far, the campaign has raised R13 000 through contributions from 16 donors.
A private donor from the US has also committed to donating $30 000 (about R450 000) for 2023, leaving them still shy of more than half of the amount needed.
“We hope to inspire self-confidence and allow our reporters to dream beyond their circumstances, and have kept hope alive for countless patients who have tuned into RX Radio,” added station manager Noluyolo Ngomani.
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, such as Talitha Counter.
Counter is 18-year-old reporter who contracted meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the brain and surrounding tissues) as a baby. She joined RX Radio as a reporter when she was only 12 years old.
On what the station means to her, Counter said: “RX Radio has taught me leadership and communication skills in terms of being able to handle my own show and knowing how to interact with guests. In my first training at RX Radio, I was taught that listening skills are very important in the radio industry and that paying careful attention to your guests is needed.
“I applied the leadership skills that I was taught at RX in school as well, because I am a prefect, RCL and the deputy head girl. I want to pursue radio as a career because ever since I started at RX Radio, I’ve found my passion. Radio allows my voice to be heard.”
All donors are eligible for a Section 18A tax certificate issued by RX Radio, the station said.
Donations can be made via https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/save-rx-radio