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Marathon show marks hospital radio anniversary
A HOSPITAL radio presenter will host a marathon 51-hour show to mark the station's 51st birthday.
Craig Simpson, 33, will present for more than two days at Hospital Radio South Tyneside (HRST) to celebrate one of the oldest hospital radio stations in the country.
The marathon will be aired from its small room hidden away in a corridor of South Tyneside District Hospital this weekend.
Mr Simpson, a civil servant from Gateshead, who has been presenting on HRST for 18 months, said: "It's going to be really difficult. Fifty one hours is a long time to spend in one place.
"There will be times when I can have a break though, but that will only be to eat and use the toilet.
"It was originally my idea, but when it was accepted, I thought 'what have I got myself in to'.
"One of the main aims of the whole thing will be to have constant interaction with the patients.
"We really wanted to do this last year, but plans never got off the ground."
Mr Simpson said the radio shows will run as normal, but they will all be presented by him.
Despite the station being run by volunteers, who have had no professional media training, the station is the second most popular choice for patients who tune in, and it trounces the nationals in its ratings.
An official charity, its main aim is an entertainment and information service and it is financed entirely through fundraising.
Now station managers want businesses to sponsor the one-off show.
Mr Simpson added: "We're looking for people to support us so we can improve the radio station as a whole, which will, in turn, benefit the patients.
"The money will be used to revamp our studio and buy new equipment, because some of the stuff hasn't been updated for 20 years.
"The money will not only help us, but will be supporting the people of South Tyneside."
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Weather for South Shields
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
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