[May
21]Berkshire, UK/ Time 106.6 presenter Mike Russell smashed
the world record for the longest on air broadcast! Marathon
man Mike was live for a hundred and twenty six hours with
no sleep - beating the previous record by one hour. He's raised
over six thousand pounds online so far for Berkshire Give
a Child a Chance.
Time FM’s Mike Russell went without sleep for five-and-a-half
days to break the record that was previously held by an Italian
DJ and is now enjoying some well earned shut-eye.
After handing over the airways to rapturous
applause from his colleagues the 25-year-old wanted nothing
more than to enjoy some well deserved sleep. He said: “I am
feeling surprisingly energised. It really does not feel like
I haven’t slept for five days. “There has never been a point
where I thought I couldn’t do it, but it has been hard and
the most challenging thing I have ever done.”
He beat off fatigue by avoiding
caffeine and showering during the 15 minute break he was allowed
to take every eight hours. He
said: “I never once thought about stopping, but the hardest
time was between 3am and 5am. My body just wanted to shut
down and go to sleep. It took a lot of willpower not to give
in. It has got easier as the week has gone on and as I have
got closure to reaching my goal.” Mr
Russell said that he has been kept going by the support of
people in Slough who have visited him in the studio and called
up with messages of support. He said: “Whenever I was really
starting to struggle I would only have to look at all the
emails and text messages to give me the boost I needed.”
Station manager Nicola Smith was there
to congratulate Mr Russell as he signed off. She said: “He
has done tremendously well. Never once has he got ratty or
snapped at anyone. He has been level headed all the way through
and has let nothing effect him.”
Mr Russell planned to spend the week in
bed before returning to his day time show.
Sources:
Time 106.6 station, Slough & Windsor Observer
Time FM’s Mike Russell went without sleep for five-and-a-half
days to break the record that was previously held by an Italian
DJ and is now enjoying some well earned shut-eye.
He
said: “I never once thought about stopping, but the hardest
time was between 3am and 5am. My body just wanted to shut
down and go to sleep. It took a lot of willpower not to give
in. It has got easier as the week has gone on and as I have
got closure to reaching my goal.” Mr
Russell said that he has been kept going by the support of
people in Slough who have visited him in the studio and called
up with messages of support. He said: “Whenever I was really
starting to struggle I would only have to look at all the
emails and text messages to give me the boost I needed.” 
