This year’s Christmas FM broadcast has raised over €80,000 for the AWARE charity so far after broadcasting festive tunes around the clock for four weeks.
On “Donation Day” last Friday 20th, Katie from the charity joined drivetime presenter Enda Caldwell for a final push, and generated over €30k in just over three hours of broadcasting.
Christmas FM co-founder Garvan Rigby told RadioToday: “We were really happy again with the response from listeners to the station for 2013. We had over 60 radio people on air alone, plus the behind the scenes people.
“We also set out this year to raise awareness around mental health. We felt we achieved that goal. Our second goal for our charity partner was to raise funds and although we haven’t finished yet with a final figure, we feel that we will raise over €80,000 by next week when the sums are added. This means Christmas FM will have raised over €500k for charities since the first broadcast in 2008.”
Paul Shepherd added: “One of the most amazing things about Christmas FM is the fact that it’s still got that momentum after about six years on air! – it’s all positivity from listeners to the station and their reaction to us is phenomenal”
The station, which was once again based in Ballsbridge Hotel in Dublin, had a number of volunteer presenters and could be heard on FM in most major towns and cities around Ireland.
Co-founder Daragh O’Sullivan: “This year we’ve expanded our offering with a specialist Easy Listening Station Online Classic Christmas FM. Next year we have plans for further specialist niche Christmas channels and we hope to further expand our online listenership which this year will have reached almost 2 million listener sessions. When people of any age tune in to Christmas FM they should immediately feel “the magic of Christmas” no matter where they are in the world. The fun side of doing my show on Christmas FM is the huge level of interest and generosity that pours in via our text line, that’s a constant throughout the whole broadcast period.
Co-founder Walter Hegarty: “Part of the fun of Christmas FM is each year expanding our broadcast range both on the air and online from a technical perspective – bringing more and more people into the Christmas FM family. We are enjoying seeing how people use Christmas FM to be closer together.”
Enda Caldwell: “Another highlight was me interviewing Johnny Vegas about his christmas and his life with Maia Dunphy his TV producer wife.
“It’s been fun and great to know so many UK radio heads tuned in and listened to my show each day! I’ve even been asked if I’m off to fill in for Ken Bruce or take over 2fm breakfast during my time on air!”
Donations can still be made via ChristmasFM.com.
Last year the 30 days of broadcasting brought in over €100k in total.