Woodridge DJ Helps Raise More Than $6,100

Those who listened to WDGC in recent years may be familiar with the voice of Shane Gustafson. 

Gustafson graduated from in the spring. He started working with DGN and DGS' radio station, WDGC (88.3 FM), during his sophomore year. 

He has since brought his radio talents to Lewis University, where last month he spent six hours on the air and raised $225 for the Family Assistance Fund at Advocate Hope Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn. 

It was part of Lewis' annual "To Kill a DJ" fundraiser, which took place from Nov. 4 to 14. Students are asked to be on air for at least six hours straight. For each six hours, the student has to raise $100. 

Some students forego sleep to be on the air much longer: this year Natalie Paul and T'rell Campbell broadcasted for 42 hours and Brittany Miller and Anthony Trotter broadcasted for 48 hours.

It was the first fundraiser for Gustafson, who said raising money was easier than he thought. He worked with local businesses to do so. 

So much time on air brings the DJ's together, Gustafson said. 

"You're working with people for so long you really do start to have a bond form," he said. "You feel like family after working with them for so long." 

Participating in the fundraiser was required for Communications Department students enrolled in courses that have WLRA Radio as a lab. Gustafson said he would have participated anyway, and he plans to do so again. 

Radio is something he has always loved, he said. 

"I've always like talking," he said. "When I was younger I would take a video camera and record myself doing things. I always wanted to be a play-by-play sports announcer." 

He started as a play-by-play sports announcer at DGN and continues to do so at Lewis. 

"I fell in love it," he said. 

Gustafson also has a radio show that combines talk and music. 

The Lewis University Family Assistance Fund supports families of hospitalized children. Funds are used to pay for cab rides to and from the hospital for children to have chemotherapy or outpatient services, medicine, clothes when being discharged, hotel rooms for families, bus passes and airline flights to the hospital. 

Lewis' radio station, WLRA, and the school's College of Nursing will host another fundraiser in the spring to support the Lewis University Family Assistance Fund at Hope Children's Hospital.