Staff Reporter –
Four Programme Presenters at a local Hindi Radio Station kept away from food and their homes for 30 hours in support of a great cause.
Sandy Sekhon, Pooja Kumar, Vijay Varma and Dev Sachindra of Humm FM Radio also remained awake in the studio, raising awareness and eyebrows among the station’s worldwide listeners.
Their aim was to raise money online to help thousands of people who were without food, homes and sleep in Fiji after Tropical Cyclone destroyed their property and their peace, taking away their possessions and in some cases, their loved ones.
Above target
Humm Radio Director Roshila Prasad said that the money collected was well above their original estimated. The actual amount was about $21,702 or about F$ 29,306.
“We launched the appeal on air on Sunday, February 21, 2016 as Category 5 Cyclone Winston was spreading its destructive mode in Fiji. It had claimed 42 lives, injured more than 100 people and left Fiji in a catastrophic state, making thousands homeless without food, water and other basic necessities,” she said.
The four Programme Presenters survived only on water during the 30-hour, locked-on-air schedule. They were neither famished nor exhausted for there was boundless energy needed to mobilise monetary benefit for poor victims in Fiji.
They were supported by a team of 15 colleagues as the ‘pledge began at 12 pm on Friday, February 26 and concluded at 12 am on Sunday, February 28.
“Humm FM listeners from different parts of the world donated to help the needy in Fiji. Many donors have never even been to Fiji but they all believed nothing is above humanity,” Ms Prasad said.
Red Cross pleased
Vijay Varma and Dev Sachindra presented a cheque for the amount realised to Fiji Red Cross Society President Cathy Wong and Director General Filipe Nainoca at their office in Suva on March 4, 2016.
“I am overwhelmed by what Humm FM and its listeners have done for the people of Fiji. This donation will strengthen the efforts of the Fiji Red Cross Society which has been providing support to affected people from the beginning,” she said.
Photo :
- Humm FM Programme Presenters Vijay Varma and Dev Sachindra with Fiji Red Cross Society President Cathy Wong (right) and Director General Filipe Nainoca in Suva
- Kashika Singh and Humm FM team with the Programme Presenters after they completed their 30-hours of water-only-no-sleep diet
