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Matt's
Matathon
BBC Radio Devon presenter Matt Woodley went on air at 12 midday
on Friday 1st August 2003 and played his final record, Roy Orbison's
appropriately named "It's Over" to conclude the 24 hour
marathon just before midday on Saturday 2nd.
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During the broadcasting endurance challenge, Matt auctioned goods
and services that had been donated by local businesses and individuals
and invited pledges in return for record requests.
A week's
holiday in Corfu increased the appeal by £1,200, and TV and
Radio gardening expert Tim Argles will soon be flexing his muscles
in a Chagford garden after auctioning his services to a listener who
pledged £425!!
Matt's Marathon was broadcast on BBC Radio Devon's medium wave frequencies
until 7pm on Friday when it could be heard across all the station's
frequencies. BBC Devon Online followed Matt's attempt throughout,
with a live webcam in the studio capturing all the action.
It meant that the programme was listened to, and watched, by people
all around the world.
Donations
Donations
from local businesses included first class train tickets from First
Great Western, a microwave oven and a weekend in a luxury hotel.
Matt was accompanied throughout the broadcast by a host of family
and friends, including his wife, Stevie, who kept him 'fed and watered'.
It's
been a long time ambition of Matt's to present such a marathon:
"Twenty four hours non-stop is
something I've always wanted to do but the management has always
said no." he told BBC Devon.
"This time around we had a good reason to do it and look at
the result. Yesterday I was predicting we'd raise £10,000
but look at it now - we're only £100 off £19,000."*
And was
there ever a time when Matt thought he wouldn't make it? "Last
night at about 6.15pm!" He says. "I had never thought about
the voice going. John Coates had told me I should take fruit into
the studio, but I didn't think anymore of it. At 6.15pm my voice was
going - what brought it back was pizza!"
Even though Matt has been awake for over 24 hours he's still not planning
to go straight to bed. "I think I'll be dozing through the afternoon
but I won't go to sleep until later. But then I'm really looking forward
to a lie in tomorrow."
About 125 sponsorship forms were sent out for Matt's Marathon broadcast.
*The final amount raised was
£30,718
Thank you to everyone who took part.
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Pictures
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Listen
to Matt's reaction after his 24 hour broadcast
