UK Radio Aid Donations Surpass £2 Million Mark

Today’s mammoth 12 hour syndicated radio broadcast in aid of the Asian tsunami appeal has raised over £2 million with just under two hours left to run.

The staggering total is double the amount expected to be raised by the event, which unites more than 200 stations with a single programme broadcast from Capital Radio’s Leicester Square studios to an audience of over 20 million listeners.

Participating radio stations agreed to launch the aid appeal by donating one day’s profit each, with the initial donation then built upon with donations from listeners via text message, phone and internet pledges. Listeners were also invited to enter competitions via text message to win once in a lifetime prizes, such as a free mobile phone, including calls and handset upgrades, for life and a top of the range car.

The event’s organisers have also arranged for auctions of celebrity paraphernalia to be held through auction website eBay. Amongst the items up for grabs are a trip to the Brit Awards with Chris Evans, a guided tour of Downing Street and a shirt once worn by Elvis Presley.

Two guest DJs have been hosting each hour of the marathon programming effort, with attractions including live acoustic sets, interviews, competitions, auctions, pledges, messages and news breaks. Amongst the celebrity hosts already featured are Chris Evans and Davina McCall, while Capital Radio DJ Johnny Vaughan and his former breakfast TV partner Liza Tarbuck have just begun their two hour stint.

ITV have followed the day’s events and will screen a behind the scenes documentary at 8:00pm, just two hours after the programme comes to an end.

UK Radio Aid: www.ukradioaid.com

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