ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A Lehigh Valley radio personality is taking his show on the road, literally.
Victor Martinez, owner and morning show host of Spanish-language radio station La Mega 101.7-FM, plans to embark on a two-week cross country motorcycle ride for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
His goal? To raise $300,000 for the pediatric research and treatment facility founded by entertainer Danny Thomas in the 1960s.
Martinez has a longstanding relationship with St. Jude’s and has been a fundraiser for several years.
“We usually do a two-day radiothon once a year and raise about $100,000,” he said. “This year, with me riding for two weeks, our goal is $300,000.”
"This will definitely be the longest journey I’ve ever taken. Even though I ride often, I still consider myself more of a ‘weekend rider.’”Victor Martinez, owner of La Mega 101.7
Martinez’s ride will begin on Saturday, Oct. 4, with his first major stop in Memphis, Tennessee, where St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is based.
From there, he will travel to California before returning to Pennsylvania by Saturday, Oct. 18.
He said he’ll make the trip on his 2023 Harley-Davidson Street Glide.
“I’ve been on motorcycles for 30 years and usually ride often during the summer,” he said.
“But this will definitely be the longest journey I’ve ever taken. Even though I ride often, I still consider myself more of a ‘weekend rider.’”
'The perfect way'
Throughout his travels, Martinez will broadcast his morning show live each day from the road, while also sharing real-time updates on social media and YouTube.
He said listeners and viewers will be invited to join the mission by becoming “Angels of Hope” through a dedicated phone line, helping raise money to support lifesaving research and treatment at St. Jude.
“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside their mission and helping raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for children fighting cancer. This year, I wanted to challenge myself even further."Victor Martinez, owner and morning show host of Spanish-language La Mega 101.7-FM
“St. Jude has been a part of my life for more than 20 years,” Martinez said in a news release.
“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside their mission and helping raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for children fighting cancer.
“This year, I wanted to challenge myself even further, and as a passionate biker, this cross-country ride felt like the perfect way to combine my love of the open road with my commitment to the kids of St. Jude.”
Previous fundraisers by Martinez, who is active in local politics and ran unsuccessfully for Lehigh County commissioner in 2023, included a 10-mile walk from Allentown to Bethlehem for St. Jude.
He broadcast his popular morning show from the White House last year leading up to the presidential election.
La Mega reaches up to 200,000 Latinos in Pennsylvania, including the Lehigh Valley, Reading, Philadelphia, Lancaster and York.
Martinez also was a co-host of the former PBS39 weekly show “Es Tiempo.”
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