HARRISBURG, Pa. — Nipsey, Jen Shade and Vince of The People’s Morning Show on WQXA-FM 105.7 THE X are kicking off their 18th Annual "People's Pay 4 Play" fundraiser, benefiting the Children's Miracle Network, or CMN, at Penn State Health Children's Hospital.
Listeners can go online, make a donation, and request a song to be played on the 105.7 THE X.
All of the money raised goes right back to CMN to help fund equipment, patient programs, and pediatric research.
This week, FOX43 sat down with Miracle Alum Sam Erikson.
Sam is in his senior year at Messiah University and is the radio manager at Pulse Radio - the university's radio station.
And like many college kids, he's looking ahead to his future. But at the same time, he's looking back at how far he's come.
"When I was born, I had multiple complications, brain bleed, stroke,” said Erikson.
He was born at 27-weeks-old.
"One of the pieces of equipment that saved my life was something called a Giraffe Omnibed," said Erikson.
And of course, at that time, he didn't know the life he was coming into. But now at 21 years old, he couldn't imagine his life any other way.
"It's amazing and I don't take it for granted,” said Erikson.
CMN is what fully funded his Giraffe Omnibed when he was in the NICU at Penn State Health Children's Hospital.
And that connection to CMN has not only given him a life-saving tool, but it's also led him to one of his passions - becoming a radio host.
Sam and his parents started doing interviews for the Pay 4 Play fundraiser since the event's inception.
After the interviews, "I would come home and put on my little, tiny playing microphone headset, and have my turntables, and I pretended like I was a DJ,” said Erikson.
Now he feels Nipsey, Jen Shade and Vince are all a part of his extended family.
“They have such an influence, a positive influence and impact on the community,” said Erikson.
And they're a big reason he's passionate about radio today.
"That's where it started with seeing the power of what a voice can do,” said Erikson.
So now he will continue to "turn up" the joy and use his voice, both on the university's airwaves and in the world - reminding people of the miracle that is growing up.
After graduation in the spring, Sam will be pursuing his Masters in Higher Education at Messiah University.