GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Wayland, the band, got their start, as their name suggests, in the small town of Wayland. The foursome played shows around West Michigan for years before 97.9 WGRD took notice.
It wasn’t long before the Free Beer and Hot Wings Morning Show got wind of the the band’s talent. Before they knew it, Wayland went from opening at small bars in West Michigan to headlining nationwide.
They don’t come home often, but when they do they want to help our West Michigan. This year they teamed up with WGRD and the Free Beer and Hot Wings Morning Show to help the A.T. Children’s Project to fight ataxia telangiectasia, a rare disorder that combines the worst of multiple diseases and breaks down a child’s immune system.
In West Michigan one family saw the results of this debilitating disease first hand. The Veldink Family has three beautiful daughters, two of which suffer with A.T. The radio show helped to earn money for the cause, but it wasn’t until the unexpected passing of the youngest Veldink daughter Olivia that they decided something drastic had to be done.
We had the pleasure of going to River City Studios a local recording studio to talk to the band and hear the song they play for the cause.
The station teamed up with the band Wayland to host a radioathon. Friday, November 21, between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., anyone could call and request any song of any format to be played. The only catch is you had to donate to the A.T. Children’s Project.
The group earned over $10,000 for A. T. Children’s Project, which will help fund research for a cure.
