LMFM’s Kelly is short-listed
THE Late Lunch show, presented by Gerry Kelly, has been nominated for two prestigious radio awards, along with an RTE Radio One one-off programme that focused on Brexit and was broadcast live from the Old Gaol in Dundalk.
The Late Lunch programme called ‘Wheels for John’ has been nominated in the social/ communication category of the IMRO Radio Awards and focused on publicising a fundraising effort for a local boy called John Dunne who needed a wheelchair, and Gerry and the team really got behind the campaign. He was joined in the studio by Natalie Kelly and Rachel Dunne to talk about John.
Natalie, who also co-ordinated an appeal on the gofundme site, wrote: ‘When I heard about John not having a proper wheelchair or receiving minimal resources from the government I felt obligated to help.
‘John had meningitis as a young baby which left him with severe brain damage . Meningitis as we all know is caused by a viral or bacteria infection. As a young baby I too had a bacteria infection’ and went on to detail the health battles she faces. But she added: ‘John badly needs a high tech wheelchair to help him achieve his best potential in life. We all deserve a fighting chance. He touched my heart , it could have been me in that wheelchair’.
Thanks to the appeal on the Late Lunch, the money flowed into the appeal and Gerry followed up with segments of later programmes telling listeners about John’s progress.
And the Late Lunch programme is again shortlisted in the magazine programme category and is up against a number of other shows, including John Toal on Radio Ulster and Moncrieff’s Movies and Booze show on Nwstalk.
RTE Radio One’s Brexit Special, broadcast live from the Oriel Centre at the Dundalk Gaol is shortlisted in the current affairs show category, along with a number of other one-off programmes, including Newstalk Drive’s President Trump election special.
The award ceremony will take place on Friday October 6 at the Lyrath Estate Hotel at a gala dinner.