Bullring challenge kicks off Capital appeal

Capital FM Birmingham breakfast producer Ben Anderson’s on a 48-hour charity challenge to make it back to the city’s Bullring shopping centre from the Madrid Bullring in Spain.

The fundraising effort – in aid of the station’s Help a Capital Child charity – sees Ben having to blag his way home from Spain without using planes or boats, picking up donations for the appeal along the way.

Breakfast team Dan and Katy are tracking ‘Posh Ben’ as he aims to arrive back in Birmingham by 8am tomorrow morning (Friday). He was dropped off in Madrid with just a phone and a passport on Wednesday. Earlier today (Thurs) the breakfast twitter page was reporting he was just north of Bordeaux.

All the monies raised by 102.2 Capital FM will go to the new Help a Capital Child and Teenage Cancer Trust partnership, which is supporting teenagers and young people living with cancer in the West Midlands who receive treatment on Teenage Cancer Trust’s unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

102.2 Capital FM Programme Controller Paul Gerrard said: “When Dan and Katy suggested this I thought they were mad and so I instantly said yes! This is a massive challenge which I know the whole of Birmingham will support as it’s for such a fantastic cause. Despite having no cash or a planned route, we’re confident Ben will blag his way back in time for the launch of our appeal on Friday!”

The Help a Capital Child Appeal Weekend is running across the Capital FM network from tomorrow until Sunday, raising funds with special programming and celebrity guests. In each region, funds raids will go towards specialist cancer units and staff.

JLS, The Wanted, Ed Sheeran, James Corden and The Xtra Factor’s Olly Murs and Caroline Flack, are just some of the hit-music and celebrity guests who will be stopping by Capital FM studios around the UK to lend their support. Britney Spears is also auctioning backstage tickets to her Femme Fatale tour and Celebrity Juice’s Keith Lemon has recorded a special video message before taking over Roberto’s mid-morning show tomorrow.

Dalton Leong, Managing Director of Help a Capital Child said: “The Help a Capital Child Appeal is going to make a real difference to the lives of many young people living with cancer throughout the UK. We appreciate the support from all of those involved in making this possible and extend huge thanks to our listeners, guests, and presenters who will make this such an exciting weekend in our first ever network appeal.”