56 Hour Radio Marathon All In The Name Of Charity

Four budding Broadcast Journalism students who are in their final year at Wrexham Glyndwr University, are taking on a remarkable test of endurance and stamina all in the name of charity.

Dan Middleton, Jack Price, Jamie Davies and Harry Wright who’ve been presenting their own sports shows on Calon FM for the last three years, are hosting a mammoth 56-hour long radio show at the Wrexham based station, to raise money for BBC Children in Need which will be televised this Friday at 7.30pm.

They officially opened the show at 8am this morning and are depriving themselves of sleep until Friday at 4pm.

The motivation behind this incredible challenge was not only to raise money for charity by putting their radio experience to good use, but to also try and beat two previous Glyndwr students who managed to host a 52-hour long radio show back in 2013 in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. The duo managed to raise over £1300, which the current foursome would love to match.

Jamie said: “The original target was to raise around £300, but we flew past that amount fairly early on. So we increased the target to £500, then once we’d reached that we went for £750. Now we’re pushing for 4 figures and are going for £1200, which we’d be so happy to achieve”.

Additionally, the guys also organised a Bake Sale which was held in the Wrexham Glyndwr University library and are selling raffle tickets at £1 a strip.

The guys won’t be alone throughout this mega challenge either, as plenty of guests are coming in to the studios to chat and offer their support. They’ll also be speaking to local charities which benefit from Children in Need funding in the Wrexham area, including Groundwork, Nightingale House Hospice, Homestart and Your Space.

Through this evening there has been bands broadcasting live music from the Creative Media Centre at Glyndwr University, including Heal the Last Stand, Portlights, Alex Green, Baby Brave, Jess Ball and The Glendale Family. The guys are also throwing in a few ‘surprises’ for their listeners, including a special ‘Eurovision’ themed section, which Jamie said he’s ‘very excited about’ and a pre-recorded interview with Welsh Olympian Colin Jackson CBE from when he visited Glyndwr University last month to receive an honorary award.

The guys all agreed that the early hours of Friday morning will be the toughest time to try and push through the tiredness barrier, but they have enlisted a little ‘stimulation’ in the shape of a giant Connect 4 game, tennis rackets, a giant chess board, a 99p inflatable football and a visit from Alice Murray from Giggles and Games in Wrexham, who will be visiting the studio armed with various toys and games for them to play with!

The guys have also decided not to go down the energy drinks route, as they fear the ‘crash and burn’ after effects won’t be ideal. Instead they’ve opted to stay fresh throughout the challenge by taking showers in the onsite facilities at the media centre, possibly changing into their onesies come the midnight hour and treating themselves to a Nandos, courtesy of Jamie’s friend who be will delivering straight to the studio.

All the guys said what will really keep them going though, ‘is the knowledge that we’re paying our respects to our hero Sir Terry Wogan who was a big inspiration’. Jamie continued: “It’s the first BBC Children in Need since Sir Terry passed away and raising money for a charity he loved and represented for 34 years is a great honour for us”.

Readers can donate online through the Calon FM Marathon Show fundraising page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/calonfm56hourshow

Alternatively, Text ‘HOUR56 + donation’ to 70070 to donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10 (Example for a £5 donation ‘HOUR 56 £5’ – please check bill payers before doing this!)