STAYING awake for a whole day can sometimes be a challenge, but one community radio presenter has taken it one step further and battled sleep to present a 60-hour charity radio show.

Ian Williams, the founding member of Sutton Benger-based internet radio station ITfM, celebrated his 60th birthday by presenting a 60-hour long radio show, playing music and requests non-stop to raise money for Dorothy House Hospice Care.

“It was an amazing experience and is something I have wanted to do ever since I got involved in broadcasting when I was 17,” the presenter from Bradenstoke said.

“But I should have done it when I was 21 and then I would have only needed to do 21 hours. Instead, I left it until I was 60. I thought, I will be 60 this year and I have to do this.”

Mr Williams decided to raise £1,000 for Dorothy House having known people who have gone to their hospices to see out their last days. But even before the end of his live show last month he had smashed his target and has so far raised £1,900.

He had no idea how his sleep deprivation would take such a toll on his body.

Friends listened to the show constantly and even paid him a visit in the studio in The Bell House Hotel.

He said: “The 60-hour show was quite an experience. I was absolutely fine, I didn’t feel tired and I made sure I had some exercise and drank plenty of water and Red Bull.

“It wasn’t that bad at all, but I hadn’t realised how sleep deprivation affects your brain – I had no co-ordination or ability to rationalise things.

“Looking around, everything had sort of changed shape a little bit, my perception of reality was slipping away.

“I had listeners almost constantly.

“Once daybreak came I opened the doors and the windows to get fresh air and everything started going back to normal.

“It was a really fantastic bit of fun but I certainly wouldn’t do it again.

“Everyone that listened said they couldn’t believe I was awake for that long. I sounded so bright and cheerful. The objective was to try and do a live link between each song.

“A lot of people held their sponsorship back to see if I could stay awake as I have a reputation for falling asleep.

“So many people got involved and I am so grateful to them for their generosity.”

To sponsor Mr Williams, please visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ianwilliamsat60.