TWO volunteer members of Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells (HRTW) are undertaking fundraising efforts to help keep the charity running.
The individual challenges will help to build on the success of a marathon 100-hour Big SOS Broadcast over the Christmas period which raised over £4,000.
The service, which has been running since 1961, used to be housed in the Kent & Sussex Hospital but must now rent its studio.
With running costs now reaching £12,000 a year, HRTW had been facing closure this September. The 40 members of the charity know they need to keep money coming in consistently.
Charlotte Evans, who has been a volunteer for 10 years, will be competing in the Eastbourne Marathon on Sunday May 14.
She completed the Three Forts Half Marathon back in 2012, when she raise over £600 for Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells.
Now the 32-year-old is aiming to raise over £1000 but needs your support. She has set up a fundraising page at www.mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/charlotteevans1
Charlotte said: “Running and fundraising for charity are the most important things in my life. I can’t even begin to explain how much I am looking forward to running the Eastbourne Marathon and fundraising for my amazing charity Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells.
She added: “Exercise and fundraising for a good cause are always an awesome combination together. You have to have a good work, exercise and giving back to the community life balance.
“More than anything I want to achieve the biggest running goal of my life and at the same time to be the biggest fundraiser for Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells. I want to be able to say I can run a marathon too. I just want that dream.”
Phil Mills, who has been a volunteer with the radio station since 2005, is organising a quiz night in aid of the charity at Brookers Oast in Paddock Wood on Saturday April 22.
Anyone is welcome to enter a team of four to six people, with tickets costing £5 per person – which includes entry to the raffle.
For more information and to enter a team, call Phil on 01892 528 528 or e-mail info@hrtw.org.uk
Phil said: “We all had a great time during our Big SOS Broadcast at the start of the year, and in the past some members have organised a series of Big Music Quiz Nights.
“So I thought it would be fun to hold another of these events to help us raise the money we need to be able to continue providing the patients in the Tunbridge Wells Hospital and Tonbridge Cottage Hospital with their personal bedside radio service. I am hoping we can get many teams to come and take part.”
