Chase Rice watched his dad go out of his way to bring smiles to the faces of kids in children's hospitals, and now he wants to do the same. The 'Ready Set Roll' singer talked to Taste of Country in support of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and in memory of his father, Daniel, who died of a heart attack while battling malignant melanoma. 

“Every Christmas, he would go into the hospitals, he and two of his best friends … and they’d take presents to these hospitals," Rice remembers. Dressed like elves and Santa Claus, they'd make it rain gifts and smiles.

Years later, when the singer's father was just out of surgery battling his own cancer, nurses went to check on him, only to find him missing.

“Turns out, he was two floors down in the hospital, on the children’s floor," Rice shares. "He had scars from surgery all down the side of his head, and they didn’t care. They were just glad that someone was taking time out of their day to come play with the kids.”

“His love for kids was passed on to me," the singer adds.

While he's yet to visit St. Jude himself, Rice says he looks forward to that opportunity, because he's aware of the good being done there and how it has spread worldwide.

Daniel died when Chase was just 22 years old, but his legacy will live on forever through his son's actions.

On March 6 and 7, Taste of Country is halting to raise money for St. Jude. For 25 years, country radio, artists and record labels have helped raise more than $500 million, ensuring that no one ever pays a dime for treatment at St. Jude.

“No child should die in the dawn of life,” founder Danny Thomas once said. Help make that wish a reality by making a donation or becoming a Partner in Hope when you click the button below. Donations can be made by phone at 800-411-9898.

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