The Power Of Radio

Ka'iulani Forbes

Over the years I’ve experienced first-hand just how powerful radio can be in severe weather events like floods, fires, cyclones and earthquakes.

I was on-air during severe storms on the Central Coast, sharing information directly from the emergency services and helping listeners communicate critical information to keep each other safe. It was a buzz like no other and a highlight of my short-lived on-air career.

Every time I witness radio in emergency mode it reminds me just how powerful our medium is. The portability, immediacy, and most importantly, the friendly voice and emotional connection with the personalities that is comforting for the audience in crisis.

While it’s clearly not possible to create them, nor would we want more severe weather incidents, I was fortunate enough to be involved in content last year that resulted in the same powerful emotional connection.

In July of 2018, my breakfast show ‘Dom, Meg & Randell’ on The Edge in New Zealand, met the Forbes family. Ka’iulani Forbes was just three years old and struggling with a rare form of cancer called Neuroblastoma. The only possible treatment options to save her life were in The United States and Europe and cost in excess of $260,000.

Days after meeting the family, Dom came up with the idea to run 5 marathons in 5 days to help raise money for Ka’iulani’s Givealittle page. Over the following three weeks, New Zealand was completely captivated by Ka’iulani’s heart-breaking story and Dom’s incredible dedication in what was a brutal physical and mental challenge.

The emotional content united the audience, with Edge listeners, clients and announcers rallying together to raise more than $250,000 to give Ka’iulani one last chance at getting the treatment she so desperately needed.

Last week, the Forbes family returned to New Zealand after spending four months living in Barcelona while Ka’iulani received her treatment. The audio below completes the story better than I ever could. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.