Waitrose worker targeting record-breaking broadcast
A Newport supermarket worker is hoping to become a record-breaking radio presenter.
In aid of mental health charity MIND, Chris Lane is going to attempt to complete a 55-hour radio show, and intends to beat Chris Moyles' 52-hour broadcast - which the former BBC Radio One presenter completed for Comic Relief.
Chris will present his show for charity live on Ngage Radio on Friday, May 31. The broadcast will begin at 12pm and end at 7pm on June 2, and can be accessed via Tiktok - @Radiolane.
All money raised will be donated to MIND. The 55-hour show will be be Lane's longest ever broadcast, and the longest on Ngage radio. The Waitrose team manager has previously presented a 36-hour broadcast, raising money for the NHS, and a 24-hour show which also raised more than £2,000 for MIND.
"I can’t say that I’ve been affected myself in the greatest of ways by mental health, but I’ve certainly felt the strains of it," Chris said.
"A lot of people that I’m close to and around me have suffered with their mental health in the past. I often think for someone who doesn’t go through that, it’s quite hard to understand what they are going through.
"Just spending a bit of time educating yourself what Mind do, and the services that they offer, you can see the benefit in it.
"For those people that are close to me, and are going through or have been through suffering with their mental health, I think of them when doing challenges like this.
"Hopefully some of the money I raise goes towards supporting the wider community."
The Waitrose worker DJs in his free time and produces radio shows for Ngage - a social media radio station.
The 25-year-old has almost 50,000 followers on Tiktok and has built a large following from his live radio broadcasts on the app.
Chris has set his sights on raising £1,000 through his charity broadcast, and is confident he can reach the 55-hour mark.
He said: "£1,000 would be an amazing amount to earn.
"I'm super excited to be going into this, but I am a little bit nervous that we are not going to cross the finish line.
There’s going to be so many people there who will be supporting and that’s what really pushes me on.
"One of the guys from Ngage is bringing his caravan along, so hopefully I’ll have a place to put my head down for a couple of minutes, and have a shower.
"For every hour that I do, I get a five-minute break, and I can add them up.
"We're having a gazebo outside with food and drink and plenty of water. It will be well stocked and prepared for the event."
Members from the radio station will support Chris throughout the broadcast, including his producer, Peter Taylor.
The 25-year-old has been inspired by his radio idol, Chris Moyles, and has had the ambition for a long time.
Chris said: "The person I’ve always admired, and he’s my radio god, is Chris Moyles.
"I’ve always thought that one day I’d love to beat his record. I’m certainly not beating the Radio One record because I’m not broadcasting on there, but I thought I can try and match it and beat it for a personal goal.
"55 sounds like quite a nice number."
Donations can be made online at: https://justgiving.com/page/55hours