U105’s Maurice Jay has once again dreamed up a unique way to broadcast his breakfast show and raise vital funds for charity. This week the presenter is broadcasting his show live with the support of the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service. Maurice is travelling around Northern Ireland in a bed fixed to a 26ft truck, visiting 105 locations in 6 days to raise vital funds for Northern Ireland Hospice’s adult and children’s services.

 

The ‘U105 Hospice Town Tour’ has captured the hearts and minds of the public. To date the response has included donations of the bed, truck, tea and coffee for the broadcasts and local communities uniting to support a charity with an annual fundraising target of over £5 million. Speaking about his new challenge Maurice Jay is hoping for the weather to be kind.

 

“The schedule is tight and the task huge but my job is easy. All I have to do is broadcast from my new bed. Some would go as far to say I have landed my dream job! The public have been planning the U105 arrival in their town for months and weeks. This event is about bringing people together, showcasing their local area and in turn supporting a local charity which cares for people across NI. Already the response has been fantastic and the weather is glorious.”

 

The live broadcasts were kickstarted in Carrickfergus and followed on the previous days with live broadcasts from Cookstown and Banbridge fire stations. The event will end in Belfast City Centre on Saturday 1^st October at around 1pm with a special grand finale planned.    

 

Speaking about the event and delighted be involved, Director of Fundraising at Northern Ireland Hospice, Ina Henry said:

 

“The partnership with U105 staff has grown from strength to strength each year. Our charity relies heavily on a varied portfolio of fundraising activities each year. The demand for hospice services is increasing each year and in turn so does our fundraising target. Hospice care is free to adults, children and the young people who need it but it’s not free to provide. Getting out and about on the ground with the unsung heroes who help us meet our annual fundraising target is very important to us.”

 

All the money raised from the event will go directly towards caring for local adults, children and young people with terminal illnesses. Over 90% of hospice patients are cared for in their own homes.   

 

Delighted to be supporting the fundraising partnership, Stanley Bentley, Group Commander, Community Development, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service said,

 

“Our Firefighters live and work in their local communities and are supporting this vital service which does so much for the local community in not only in supporting patients with life threatening illnesses but their families and carers too.  Firefighters across Northern Ireland would encourage the local community to join with them in supporting this fantastic cause.”

 

If you would like to support the U105 Hospice Town Tour or find out when its visiting your local area tune into U105.8 FM. Donate online by clicking on www.justgiving.com/u105towntour. Text HOSPICE followed by your email address to 81222 *Standard network charges apply.