£5m target for Telethon

The RTE Telethon which raises money for People in Need takes place on tomorrow week and is hoping to beat the £4

The RTE Telethon which raises money for People in Need takes place on tomorrow week and is hoping to beat the £4.3 million it raised in 1998.

The Telethon is held every two years and this year the target is more than £5 million.

Gay Byrne will return to the RTE studio for the evening to host events along with Joe Duffy and Brendan O'Carroll. Among the activities will be a Celebrity Stars in their Eyes, a glamorous grannie contest, and celebrity make-overs by Celia Larkin. Music acts will include Kila, Back Alley and Jack L. The main event will be a huge auction, with one of the main items being the U2 disco van. The fund-raising, however, is not confined to the RTE station. All over the country people will hold competitions and local activities. E outside broadcast teams. headed by familiar faces from RTE.

The Telethon programme continues from 6.30 p.m. €1 and continues until 2 a.m. with breaks only for Coronation Street and the News.