Cities 97 DJ Giving Back To Charity With The 'At Home Project'

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It's called the "At Home Project" and one local radio disc jockey is making it his mission to give back to a Minneapolis charity that gave his family so much.

Cities 97 DJ Paul Fletcher's daughter, Elsie, was diagnosed with Hirschsprung's disease at birth. According to Mayo Clinic, Hirschsprung's disease is a condition that affects the large intestine and causes problems with passing stool. The disease usually affects newborns. When a child is diagnosed with this disease, he/she is usually unable to have a bowel movement in the first days of birth.

Together, Fletcher and singer/songwriter Matt Hires have a released a song they hope will raise awareness for the disease and money for the Upper Midwest Chapter of the Ronald McDonald House.

Elsie just celebrated her second birthday Oct. 18, and her father couldn't be happier.

"Elsie had two major surgeries before she was 6 months old," said Paul Fletcher, Elsie's father, speaking about her condition. "Right now she's good to go."

During that time of uncertainty, Paul and his wife made the Ronald McDonald House at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis their home away from home.

"A nurse turned to me and asked, is everything ok?" said Paul, speaking about his time at Children's Hospital. "I just turned to her and said, is there someplace I can go sleep?"

Currently Fletcher said the only major concern about his daughter's disease is what any parent of a toddler is dealing with: Potty training.

"We live our lives with she could be good to go for life or we could be back here tomorrow," said Fletcher.

It was during Elsie's first year of life that Paul developed a strong bond with Hires. Matt, along with his guitar, acted as the "house" band for Cities 97 last year. Together, the two shared a love a fantasy football and that's when Paul opened up about his daughter's struggles.

"He told me a little bit about it in April of last year," said Hires.

The single, "Hold You Up," was released last October in honor of Elsie and the Ronald McDonald House.

"I wrote most of while was working on the porch and lyrics would come to me," said Hires, who lives in Tampa Bay, Fla.

"I really like the bridge in the song," said Fletcher. "It goes, 'til the silence gives an answer, 'til your questions find a home, that's what Ronald McDonald House does. He absolutely nailed it."

The song is the first of many which will be released through the "At Home Project," a charity started by Paul to help others like him show gratitude.

"The support has been beyond comprehension, I wake up every single morning thinking I don't know how this is happening," said Fletcher with tears in his eyes.

You can watch the music video online here

Lyrics of Hold You Up
Singer/Songwriter: Matt Hires
Hold You Up

Out of sight
Out of mind
And the silence won't break
All your signals in the sky.....they go unnoticed

Left alone
Left behind
And it's all you can take
When it's all you can take....let me be your escape

Oh and nothing's gonna stop my love for you
Nothing's gonna stop my love
When the night, never ends
When you're lookin for the sun

Woah, oh, nothing's gonna stop my love for you
Nothing's gonna stop my love

When you're hearts goin under......I will hold you up.
Woah-oh-oh-oh

I will hold you up
Put your hand into mine

And we'll fight the fear away
Yeah, we'll fight the fear away
Let me be your escape

Oh and nothing's gonna stop my love for you
Nothing's gonna stop my love
When the night, never ends
When you're lookin for the sun
Woah, oh, nothing's gonna stop my love for you

Nothing's gonna stop my love
When you're hearts goin under......I will hold you up.

Woah-oh-oh-oh

I will hold you up
Til the silence gives an answer
Til your questions find a home
Til the silence gives an answer

I will hold you up

I will hold you up.......

Oh and nothing's gonna stop my love for you
Nothing's gonna stop my love
Nothing's gonna stop my love
When the night, never ends
When you're lookin for the sun

Woah, oh, nothing's gonna stop my love for you
Nothing's gonna stop my love
When you're hearts goin under......I will hold you up.

Woah-oh-oh-oh
I will hold you up

Woah-oh-oh-oh
I will hold you up