This is one of the most touching St. Jude stories we've ever heard. A 12-year-old boy in Pittsfield, Mass. donated $11 — which was all the money he had in the world — to help the kids at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital this week.

Ethan McDonald called in to radio station WGNA in Albany, N.Y., as part of their Country Cares for St. Jude radiothon, for which they partnered with Taste of Country and 15 other Townsquare Media-owned stations. He says he donated his birthday money "because I just wanted to help out a few kids who weren't too fortunate."

Ethan encourages others to give as generously as they can.

"I think people should donate, because I honestly don't think anyone should suffer, or go through pain, or die really young," he says. "I think they should live a nice life with their family, and just enjoy the good moments, and cherish them, because you're not gonna live forever."

The mission of St. Jude is to help children with serious illnesses and their families do exactly that, through a combination of treatment and research. Generous donations like Ethan's help ensure that no family has to pay for treatment, food or lodging while their child is at St. Jude, so they can concentrate on what's really important — their child's health. It costs only $20 a month to become a Partner in Hope and support St. Jude's life-saving work.

"I'm so happy that people are just donating," Ethan adds. "To anyone who's listening to this, please donate. You'll help out a ton for the kids at St. Jude."

Click on the button below to donate to St. Jude, so they can continue to bring about founder Danny Thomas' vision that "no child should have to die in the dawn of life."

Listen as Ethan McDonald Calls in to WGNA

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