AMHERST - Dave March doesn't know how he'll stay awake and on the air for 48 hours.
But that doesn't concern him at the moment, because he knows this is something he needs to do.
March will be the CKDH host for 48 Hours for Haiti, an event raising money for Haitian relief following an earthquake last week that levelled much of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
"It's two days of my life that I'm devoting to this, but just imagine what the first two days after the earthquake were like. We want to raise awareness and money," March said.
Though radio hosts can do voice-overs days in advance, March has no intention of doing anything of that sort.
He plans on spending all 48 hours at the radio station, beginning at 12 p.m. Thursday and lasting until Saturday.
"I don't drink coffee, but I do drink tea," he said, noting that he might also look into energy drinks.
"But if I can get lost in the work and not think about the time, I'll be fine."
Two days before March is scheduled to go on-air for the event, more than $5,000 has been raised.
The idea was to go to their sponsors in the community to see if they'd like to sponsor one hour of the broadcast for $100.
All the money goes directly to the Canadian Red Cross Haiti earthquake fund.
"People can call in here to make donations, they can go to our website, can visit our office or stop into the Red Cross," March said.
"This earthquake has immobilized everyone's mind. It's all about making sure aid gets to Haiti. We need to do something."
Throughout the broadcast, March will be getting people's thoughts on the devastation in Haiti, including Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter.
March said the radio station has sent out invitations to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor General Michaelle Jean, who is of Haitian descent.
To make a donation, call the radio station at 667-3875, visit www.ckdh.net, or stop by the Amherst branch of the Canadian Red Cross at 16 Church St., Suite B.
rtetanish@amherstdaily.com
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