1/19/2004             
(Click photos to view slide show)
Jonesboro Sun                    

Telethon raises $116,571 for UCP 

The 2004 Starfest Cerebral Palsy telethon Sunday raised a $116,571 in pledges to help area residents fighting the disease, a spokesman for United Cerebral Palsy of Northeast Arkansas said.

The 10-hour event was held in the television studio at Arkansas State University with 150 UCP volunteers and students from the RTV Department. 

Rees Hogue, 4, was the "superstar" of the event. Because of an earlier disease, Hogue developed athetoid cerebral palsy along with hearing loss.

The telethon is sponsored by the Northeast Chapter of the United Cerebral Palsy of Arkansas. It supports day service centers in Northeast Arkansas along with helping provide funds for van lifts, batteries for wheelchairs and other items helping those with cerebral palsy.

Students who participated were: