Ryan Tubridy, host of the RTÉ People in Need Telethon 2007, in association with eircom, as well as RTÉ Television presenters Pamela Flood, Lucy Kennedy, Caroline Morahan and Laura Woods has officially announced that the RTÉ People in Need Telethon is back. Set to broadcast on RTÉ One on Friday 26 October, the return of the telethon will be welcome news for charities and community groups in Mayo. Since the first Telethon in 1988, over €1.2m has been distributed to almost 170 organisations in the county.

How far will you go for People in Need? That was the question posed today by Ryan, Pamela, Lucy, Caroline and Laura, reflecting the theme of this year’s RTÉ People in Need Telethon. The People in Need Trust, meanwhile, encouraged people to log on to

www.telethon.ie   to register their events.

Pictured at Monaghan’s Motors Breaffy Rd Castlebar David Monaghan presenting a courtesy car to John O’Shaughnessy Regional Co-Coordinator for the Telethon People in Need 2007. L-R: David Monaghan, Nick Mannion (Connacht Signs) who did the design and sign writing for the car, John O’Shaughnessy. John would like any one interested in running a fund raising event to contact him on 087 2890533. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2007.

John O’Shaughnessy, People in Need Trust Co-ordinator for Mayo is confident that this year’s fundraising campaign will provide a great boost to Mayo charities: "Thanks to both RTÉ and Eircom, the telethon is back and once again this enables us to raise much needed funds for Mayo charities. People can make a big difference to the charities in Mayo by helping to organise a fundraiser in their local community, school, or workplace. What’s great about telethon is that by organising a fundraiser you are not just helping one charity, you are helping many charities who will benefit from the money raised in this year’s Telethon. Every euro raised in county mayo stays in the county. Its an excellent way for communities to get together, have some fun, and at the same time gain the immense satisfaction of knowing that they are helping so many worthwhile causes in County Mayo".

RTÉ confirmed that the telethon broadcast will be presented by Ryan Tubridy and Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh, with Blathnaid presenting the show from 7.00pm while Ryan takes up the reins at 9.30pm. Packed full of entertainment, and with regular updates from fundraising centres around the country, this year’s telethon shows will feature plenty of familiar celebrities behaving badly, and all in a good cause. Programme producer Michael Kealy says: "Expect plenty of stunts, lots of bizarre and novel fund-raising ideas, and bargains galore in the telethon auction room. The focus this year is on entertainment and we’re aiming to make the telethon a must-see from 7.00pm on Friday evening until the early hours of Saturday morning."

Speaking on behalf of eircom, Managing Director Cathal Magee said: "eircom has been involved in the telethon since it began and we have been proud to see it go from strength to strength over the years. We are very much looking forward to this year’s event and will work with the People in Need Trust and RTÉ to ensure this is the best telethon ever."

Since its inception in 1988, over €35 million has been raised by the People in Need Trust through the RTÉ People in Need Telethon, supporting a wide variety of charitable organisations nationwide. During the last Telethon in 2004, over 4,000 fundraising events were organised by people nationwide, and proceeds were subsequently distributed to almost 760 projects in the 26 counties. The Mayo campaign in particular was very successful with over E186,000 raised. This money was then distributed to Mayo charities, with the beneficiaries including Western Care, Western Alzheimers, Mayo-Roscommon Hospice as well as many other deserving causes. All euro raised in mayo goes directly to mayo charities.

The telethon has always placed a special emphasis on smaller, low-profile groups who would have difficulty in raising sufficient funds for themselves. It’s almost 20 years since the very first telethon and organizers hope that the RTÉ People in Need Telethon 2007 will be an anniversary to remember for thousands of people in need the length and breadth of the country.

Should you wish to become involved in Telethon 2007, please phone John O Shaughnessy People in Need Trust Co-ordinator for Mayo on 087-2890533.