ALBANY, GA -- Balloons filled the Albany Mall on Thursday, not to be given out to children but to help them.

Thursday marked the kickoff for the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Southwest Georgia chapter of the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN): the B-100 Radiothon. Volunteers manned the phones all day during the radiothon, receiving calls and making calls for donations.

They raised more than $8,000 on Thursday. The Radiothon continues on Friday at the Albany Mall from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

One-hundred percent of the funds CMN raises at the Radiothon will stay in Southwest Georgia.

"If they call in a three dollar donation, we'll take it! That three dollars is going to help purchase life saving equipment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, toys for physical therapy and programs for nurses and on and on. It's just a fantastic thing," says Amanda Smith with Children's Miracle Network.

If you want to donate, visit the Albany Mall between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., or call 229-889-7048 or 1-866-448-3266.

Friday the Albany Panthers and the dance team will be showing their support by answering phones at the mall from noon until 2 p.m.

The IHOP on Ledo Road will have a breakfast party on Friday between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.  A portion of their proceeds will benefit CMN. The IHOP has employees who have benefitted from the Children’s Miracle Network.