Fuse FM hold 24-hour charity broadcast

Friday the 27th of February saw the University of Manchester’s student radio, Fuse FM, take part in a mammoth 24-hour broadcast all in the name of charity.

The broadcast was a mix of interviews, music, chat, and special features in order to raise as much money as possible. The chosen charity was Action for ME, which offers support for those suffering with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. More than 250000 people suffer from this illness in the UK alone. Action for ME provides support for those affected by the syndrome whilst also campaigning for better treatment and research.

Most of the Fuse FM committee members were involved in the broadcast, which included a Nevermind the Buzzcocks-style quiz, a few live music sessions, and even some hard-hitting political discussion in the later stages.

The Mancunion spoke to James Nolan, Fuse FM’s Station Manager, to see how the event went.

“Doing a 24-hour broadcast is something I have wanted to do since I became Station Manager. As it was the Fundraising day of VoluntHero Week at the union, we thought there would be no better opportunity to do it whilst raising some money for charity.”

When asked about his highlights, James said, “I would have to say our early morning reading of random extracts of Fifty Shades of Grey would have to be a highlight.”

With many participants doing at least 12-hour shifts, if not the full 24 hours, it wasn’t all plain sailing for the presenters.

“The heat of the studio was a real tester of our endurance… it got pretty smelly in there.”

“Our energy levels slipped significantly and fully cohesive sentences became a real struggle, but we battled through and re-energised at breakfast time when things livened up again.”

But apparently it was all great fun, and a huge success. If you missed the show then watch this space—some best bits are set to be released in the near future. The event has managed to raise £305 so far with donations still being accepted on JustGiving.