September 16th, 2008 
joel When Lesley Stahl and 60 Minutes came to Erie, it was a turning point.
Stahl and her production team were covering what she later described as “one of my lifetime favorite stories” on the “The Kanzius Machine,” the RF-based cancer treatment that retired Erie broadcaster John Kanzius has invented and is currently in early trials. When Ms. Stahl and Mr. Kanzius were visiting CBS-affiliate WSEE, News Director Scott Bremner introduced Kanzius to Channel 35 owner Brian Lilly.
Bremner says, “Brian was very impressed with what he heard and thought it should be something our stations should support.” The results of that conversation has led to bringing all of the Lilly broadcasting properties to bear as they open up their airwaves tonight to raise money for the John Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation. The goal is to help fund the continued research of the treatment.
Today, Tuesday, September 16th beginning at 5:00 PM, the phone banks will open at 814-454-5201 ext. 0. Then at 7pm, there will be an hour long, commercial-free special, highlighting the progress of the research and foundation, aired live simultaneously on WSEE, WICU-12, and NWPA’s CW (WSEE-DT2).
This is another example of the great work that live, local, and free broadcasting can do in a community. I want to encourage the entire Erie media community to spread the word about the telethon and do their part in support of the Kanzius Foundation. Link your blogs, talk about it during your airshifts, e-mail your friends, and make sure you personally call in a pledge.
Here’s the link to send a pledge right now.
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It was an interesting experiment to marshall all of Lilly Broadcasting’s resources to aim at one project to see what impact could be made.
Despite the country’s financial crisis, the MDA telethon just a week earlier and hardships faced by individual families, the Community of Kanzius telethon raised in excess of $100,000.
A year long program from a local credit union could up that total to more than $150,000 for a telethon only one hour long.
Proof perhaps of the impact cancer has in everyone’s lives, the generosity of the Erie community, and the difference even a small media group can make when aimed in the right direction.
$100,000 is a great number considering all the factors your mentioned! Will there be ongoing opportunities to donate? I noticed that the crawler on the screen today mentioned people could donate today if they didn’t get the opportunity to do so today.
The day after the telethon we received another $11,000 dollars from callers. I think that shows not only Erie’s generosity, but also how far reaching cancer really is.
Donations can always be made through the foundation’s website at http://www.johnkanziuscancerresearchfoundation.org.