This year marks the 25th anniversary of the WKLH Miracle Marathon for Children’s Wisconsin presented by Mars Family Foundation. Over that time, the Miracle Marathon radiothon has raised $28 million for Children’s Wisconsin research and services. Dave Luczak and Dorene Michaels, hosts of the The Morning ‘KLH, have been an integral part of the event’s success. Dave has been a steadfast supporter of Children’s Wisconsin and has hosted every radiothon since it began in 1998. He also is an active member of the Children’s Wisconsin Foundation board. Dorene has co-hosted the event with Dave, interviewing countless patients and families for the past seven years. We caught up with both recently to ask them a few questions about their Miracle Marathon experiences.
Dave: It sounds cliché, but to witness the miracles that take place across Children’s Wisconsin up close and personal is a true privilege. Moms and dads often must revisit the hardest days of their lives by sharing their stories on the radio. They do it with the hope of making the lives of future families who come here just a little better. The kids who share their stories display such wisdom and insight and courage. They are often the ones who comfort their parents. And, the caregivers. It’s amazing what they do and how committed they are. It’s not just a job. It’s truly a calling. It inspires and humbles me to do this every year and be part of it.
Dorene: I agree with everything Dave said. I also really like seeing the improvements every year. We really get to see up close and personal where the money goes. We watch the kids who stop and marvel at the fish tank in the lobby. We see the private spaces for grieving parents and other amenities that help make it a little easier for families whose children are in the hospital. We get to see how excited the kids are when a therapy dog pays them a visit. All of these things are possible because of donations.
Dorene: Obviously, the hardest part is when we have a family that has a story that doesn’t have a happy ending. It’s emotional, and they are emotional. It’s raw. We want to just go hug them and tell them it’s going to be okay. But that’s why they do it, and that’s why we do it. They share their own personal stories to help families out there know that Children’s Wisconsin will be there for them whenever they need it.
Dave: That is the absolutely the hardest part. You can feel the waves of grief and emotion when they share their journeys here. But they also show such incredible gratitude and love for this hospital and these people who have supported them throughout. The doctors, nurses, bereavement coordinators, chaplains — they are emotional first responders. They not only know what to do when it comes to the human body, but they are also incredibly compassionate to the emotional needs of these families.
Dave: The first Miracle Marathon was in 1998. It was a three-day radiothon on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We had no idea what a positive response from the community we would get, not yet fully realizing how moved the listeners were when they heard these Children’s Wisconsin stories. We had so many calls coming in that we would talk on the radio, and then we would play a song so we could help answer the phones.
Every year since then, we’ve learned something new. Now, in the digital age, there are so many ways for listeners to participate in addition to listening on the radio and calling in pledges. They can listen online from anywhere, they can donate online, and they can share their own stories on social media as well. We can cast a wider net with people coming together to help spread the word.
Dorene: The year that COVID-19 hit and we couldn’t be in the hospital was a challenge. We knew how important it was to continue to support Children’s Wisconsin. There were still kids in the hospital and donations that needed to be made. We, like everyone else, had to pivot and came together to host the Holiday of Miracle: Day of Giving that December.
Dorene: Everything in the Herma Heart Institute amazes me. Every year, there seem to be more innovations to talk about. When you think about the kids born with congenital heart defects 25 years ago who are now still alive and well into adulthood, you appreciate the incredible advancements that have been made. The way Children’s Wisconsin has tackled mental and behavioral health is amazing. Children’s Wisconsin sees the need and works to fulfill it.
Dave: The entire facility is very modern and continues to modernize. I think what wows me most is the care that the families are given, because the patient is going through it, but so is the entire family. The entire family is interrupted. The siblings’ lives are disrupted too. One example is the coordination of appointments for kids with complex care needs, so they don’t have to come back repeatedly. That’s a simple thing, but it makes such an impact.
Dave: All I can say is that I’m super proud of our listeners. Every year, they step up. This statistic came through a few years ago that not only do we have one of the highest revenue-generating children’s hospital radiothons in north America, but our audience is No. 1 in follow through with their commitment. It’s an unbelievable 98 to 99 percent of people who pledge to give money during Miracle Marathon follow through. That’s the Wisconsin way. If we promise something, we’re going to do it. We’re people of our word. And I think that’s something we all need to be proud of.
Dorene: For me, beginning with when I hosted my first Miracle Marathon, people come up to me and say, “I don’t know how you do it. I’m listening to these stories on the radio, and I’m crying.” I always say, “Yes, it’s hard. But it’s so inspiring.” And they say, “You’re right. It is so inspiring — and that’s why I donate.”
Dave: We would love to hit that $1 million mark again. That would be awesome. We don’t ever really have the expectation. We just want to do the best job we can and feature the kids and the stories, and hopefully it will move people to donate.
Dorene: I would say that every single person who listens and donated in the past, is thinking about donating or someday will donate, just do it. Every dollar counts, and every dollar makes a difference for kids and families across the state.
We invite you to be part of the 25th annual WKLH Miracle Marathon, and you can get involved in the following ways:
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