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The Greenville Lions Club and WQZX, Q94 FM join forces Oct. 26 as the club commandeers the airwaves to raise money for local charities.

The fundraiser, locally known as Lions Club Radio Day, has been held for four decades, with Q94 participating for 33 years.

“This is our largest fundraiser we do each year,” said Ricky Cargile, Lions Club secretary/treasurer. “We raise money for our projects we put on in Greenville and for Lions Club International. We usually raise a pretty good penny doing all this.”

Cargile said the organization raised over $8,000 a year ago, and he hopes to see the 2022 iteration of the event yield even better results.

Local businesses can participate in the takeover by purchasing advertising time from Lions Club members for $50, which ensures the ad will be read live over the air twice during the day.

Lions Club members will also ask trivia questions to listeners, who can call the radio station to answer and win prizes.

The club also offers smoked Boston butts for sale during the event for $35 available for pickup in the park across from the radio station between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Another feature, considered to be a badge of honor among the community members who volunteer to participate, is the selection of Greenville’s Ugliest Man.

“It’s very much appreciated, especially the Ugliest Man contest,” Cargile said. “People call in, and they place a vote every time they call in. They get involved in it trying to get the person they’ve promoted to win. It’s very supported by the community and all … It’s just a fun day for everybody.”

Cargile said people can also place their votes via The Greenville Advocate website to select one of the volunteers, who, if chosen as the winner, receive the distinct honor of riding in the back of a pickup truck seated on their ceremonial porcelain throne, or in layman’s terms, a toilet, during the Greenville Christmas Parade.

“I think we’ve only had one person that wouldn’t ride in the (parade) in the 40 years,” Cargile said. “It’s really more people being popular. That’s what it’s all about really. We just call it the Ugliest Man contest.”

Kyle Haynes, manager at Q94, said it’s fun to team up with Lions for the annual event.

“We’re proud to be the station they choose to do that with,” he said. “They’re one of our great civic groups. We do anything that we can to help them.”

For more information on Lions Club Radio Day, contact Cargile at (334) 662-8398.