PICTURE GALLERIES:

> How the day unfolded
See pictures of our presenters out and about in Bristol

> Visiting Devon's Childrens' hospice
Geoff visited the centre in a helicopter

Listeners of BBC Radio Bristol yesterday smashed the £1million appeal for Babe’s Big Appeal.

A 12 hour on-air marathon, hosted by BBC Radio Bristol's John Turner, took place throughout the day. Meanwhile, other Radio Bristol presenters raced around the area, each on different modes of transport, to collect money from listeners- literally, bringing home the bacon!

At 5.00pm John Turner announced the £1million mark had been reached and by 6.00pm the total had been smashed. The current total is a whopping £1,116,043 and the money is still coming in.

Back in April, BBC Radio Bristol with the help of it’s listeners across the region, pledged to raise £1million by the end of the year. The money raised is to go towards Babe’s Big Appeal to build a Children’s Hospice in the South West.

There are 800 families in the area that have children with life limiting illnesses that mean they will necer reach adulthood. The Children's Hospice South West work to care for the whole family in a home from home environment where they can have happy memories, respite and terminal care.

Throughout the marathon broadcast, listeners were asked to take part in a number of activities, including pitching Bristol-based soap opera ideas to a script editor from Eastenders. Other events organised this year by Radio Bristol for the appeal include, a golf day, where sports producer Geoff Twentyman and 20 other golfers played 54 holes in 16 hours, and the Bristol Shoguns holding their own ‘pig nic’.

Andrew Wilson, Head of Local and Regional Programming at BBC Bristol said:
‘Babe's Big Appeal demonstrates what's so very special about BBC Radio Bristol listeners. They are passionate about contributing positively to their local community and this appeal has brought together individuals and groups like never before. Babe has really captured the imagination.’

‘Every single member of staff at Radio Bristol played a huge part in making the Babe Appeal work so successfully and imaginatively on air; it's been a life-changing experience for all of us.’