It is indeed rare for three local TV competitors in the same market to forget their differences and to come together to honor a beloved member of the community. On Monday night, three local TV affiliates in Columbus, will air Standing with Chris, a program to honor the life of the late Chris Bradley and to promote the importance of bone marrow donation and show Central Ohio viewers how they can help save lives.
In a rare, yet extraordinary show of solidarity, three stations in Columbus, Ohio, are partnering to honor the life of the late Chris Bradley, who died on Dec. 6 at the age of 53 from leukemia. Bradley had been the chief meteorologist at WBNS since 2006, and before that, for WSYX from the 1990s.
On Monday night, Dec. 10, the stations will air Standing with Chris, a program promoting the importance of bone marrow donation and show Central Ohio viewers how they can help save lives.
Standing with Chris will air from 5 to 7:30 on WSYX, Sinclair’s ABC affiliate; WBNS, Dispatch’s CBS affiliate; and WCMH, Nexstar’s NBC affiliate.
The program is in partnership with Be The Match, a nonprofit that manages the largest and most diverse bone marrow registry in the world.
Each station’s viewers will be able to call in to speak with Be The Match volunteers.
“Chris Bradley was an inspiration to all of Central Ohio in sickness and in health. He and his family braved 21 months battling acute myeloid leukemia, a terribly aggressive illness. Yet his courageous journey has touched us all,” said John Cardenas, WBNS general manager.
“Chris continued to teach us that in spite of our many differences, there is good in all of us when we come together as one — which is a very powerful message.”
“Chris will always be a beloved member of the ABC 6 News family. He will live forever in our hearts, minds and memories, like the many lives he touched across all of Central Ohio,” said Tony D’Angelo, WSYX’s general manager.
“All of us at ABC 6 are proud to stand with Chris and continue his fight to help others who are fighting their own personal battles against cancer.”
“Chris was not just a great meteorologist and competitor, he was a kind, caring human being who dedicated his life to making Central Ohio a better place to live, work and play for everyone,” said Ken Freedman, WCMH’s general manager.
“The courage and bravery he displayed during his personal battle was a testament to his character. His leadership in supporting cancer awareness and organizations like Be The Match speaks volumes about his desire to continue helping others. Speaking on behalf of the women and men of NBC4, we’re proud to stand with Chris and raise awareness for this important message. We send his family wishes for peace, comfort and love during this difficult time.”
NOTE: I invite you to read some of the comments from viewers who posted their thoughts on the various stations’ Facebook pages. It is indeed rare for three TV competitors in the same market to forget their differences and to come together not only to honor a beloved member of the community, but to educate the community about bone marrow donation.
Bradley was a recognized leader on social media, and will receive special recognition at TVNewsCheck’s inaugural Social Media Excellence Awards on Dec. 10 at TVNewsCheck’s NewsTECHForum in New York.
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