Jonathan Bellamy reports

From Cumbernauld near Glasgow to Plymouth on the South Coast, and across the nation on DAB, 9 Christian radio stations have united together to support a major event raising vital funds for family projects in Haiti.

Held at the Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, on February 12th, Heart For Haiti is a major music and worship event featuring bands Yfriday, BlushUK, Kev Whitmore and the Abundant Life Worship Team.

It was put together in just 48 hours in the wake of the devastation of the Haiti tragedy and all artists are supporting the event at their own expense. The evening will feature a presentation from Andy Hawthorne of The Message, who has just returned from witnessing the devastation in Haiti first hand, along with guests from the Compassion charity, a group who are already running in excess of 300 projects on the island.

Taking place from the heart of the nation, the event will be broadcast live to the four corners of the UK, as Christian radio stations have rallied to support this urgent cause.

It has been such a joy to see the unity and partnership that has emerged between the 9 Christian stations to get behind this initiative. There has been such a willingness from all stations to cancel their normal programming and to take the live broadcast. Together we are able to reach so many more people to tune in and engage with the evening, and we are hoping that many many of our listeners will donate to this serious need on the night.

The stations taking part include Christian community stations Alive Radio 107.3FM in Dumfries; Revival 100.8FM in Cumbernauld; Branch 101.8FM in Dewsbury; Hope 90.1FM in Bournemouth; Shine 102.4FM in Banbridge, Co Down, N Ireland; Cross Rhythms Plymouth 96.3FM; Cross Rhythms Teesside 107.1FM and Cross Rhythms City Radio 101.8FM in Stoke-on-Trent. In addition national Christian Broadcasters UCB will take the broadcast across their nationwide DAB network, and satellite broadcasters TWR are promoting to their listeners to tune in to Cross Rhythms.

The goal on the night is to raise as much money as possible for the people and projects run by Compassion in Port au Prince, Haiti. As such the programme, hosted by Cross Rhythms, will be full of the best music, inspiring messages and interviews, plus regular invitations to donate by Text or credit card. The original goal was £20,000 but staggeringly that target looks set to be met even before the event takes place! We should be able to raise well above initial expectations. Wherever you live in the UK we encourage people to tune in to whichever is your local station, or if there isn't one then online. Be a part of making a difference today, so that many can have a future tomorrow!"

Read an interview with Ashley Cooper, organiser of Heart For Haiti.

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