RTE Telethon raises €7.5m

More than €7.5m was raised by the Irish public during the RTE People in Need Telethon, it was announced today.

Charities across the country are celebrating the success of the event, aired on RTE One and Two yesterday.

While donations poured in from viewers and the thousands of fundraisers around the country, proceeds from the charity reality TV show 'Celebrities Go Wild' were also added on.

All funds raised will be distributed to charities and community groups around Ireland, with money raised in each county going back into that county.

Some €42.5m has been collected since the event began in 1988.

Michael Healy Rae, who was crowned the winner by viewers, said: “I want to thank everybody who texted during the week, not just for me.

“All this has been about raising money, creating awareness of poverty in our affluent society. I want to compliment the seven finest people I’ve ever had the privilege of walking anywhere with, or crawling anywhere with even.”

Michael Kealy, RTE executive producer, said all the programmes aired were an outstanding success: “We’ve achieved our goal of entertaining the nation while raising a truly astonishing amount of money for people in need all over the country,” he said.

Presented by Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh and Ryan Tubridy, the People in Need Telethon live broadcast featured the talents of a host of household names, including Charlie Bird in disguise, Pat Kenny in the Podge and Rodge line of fire, Caroline Morahan and Gráinne Seoige in uncharacteristic song, as well as the talents of Pamela Flood, Tom McGurk, Lucy Kennedy, Aidan Power and Anna Nolan.

Margaret Heffernan, founding director of People in Need, said she was delighted the Telethon has raised so much money.

“The People in Need Trust is delighted at the response to our appeal for funds to help charities all over the country,” she added.

“Hundreds of small charities will directly benefit from People in Need grants and once again the Irish people have surpassed themselves with their generosity.”

During the 2007 campaign thousands of events were organised by individuals and groups throughout the country, including the world’s first ever static triathlon (Ironman distance) which took place on Dublin’s Grafton Street, a fashion show in a circus tent in Cork organised by 'Weddings by Frank' (aka Peter Kelly) and an event organised by a group of Polish volunteers who cycled the distance from Dublin to Poland on exercise bikes.