An incredible $1,264,252 was raised in last night’s Nine My Room Telethon, taking another step closer to the aim of achieving a 100 per cent cure for childhood cancer.
Eddie McGuire, Rebecca Maddern and Shane Crawford were joined by 100 of the biggest names in entertainment, television and sport for a television spectacular in aid of the My Room children’s cancer charity.
Last night’s tally means that the My Room Telethon has raised more than $4.939 million over the last four years. One hundred per cent of the proceeds will again go straight towards striving for better outcomes for children with cancer. This includes funding clinical research projects, patient and family care, and supporting the Monash Children’s Hospital Cancer Centre.
The Telstra Celebrity Phone Room was filled with a cavalcade of stars, including Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne, and actors John Howard, Kate Jenkinson, Kate Atkinson, Kevin Harrington, Kate Lister, Ella Newton, Lisa McCune, Michala Banas, Jacinta Stapleton, Isabella Giovinazzo and Hannah Monson. Plus The Bachelorette’s Georgia Love and Lee Elliott, Gamble Breaux and Pettifleur from The Real Housewives of Melbourne, entertainer Rhonda Burchmore, model Laura Dundovic, Getaway host Catriona Rowntree, Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp, as well as Peter Hitchener, Tony Jones, Livinia Nixon, Alicia Loxley and Clint Stanaway from Nine News.
Some of Australia’s biggest sporting stars came together for the cause, with recent AFL All Australians Patrick Cripps, Marcus Bontempelli and Tom Stewart joined by former WBO welterweight title holder Jeff Horn, jockey Craig Williams, Melbourne Victory’s Leigh Broxham and My Room ambassadors Andrew McGrath, Jack Ziebell, Mitch Duncan and Mark Blicavs.
Australian singing sensation Vanessa Amorosi lifted the roof with her new song Hello Me in its first television performance, while The Voices Supergroup, consisting of Rob Mills, Dale Ryder, Jason Singh and The Voice favourite Natasha Stuart, plus the Curry Brothers, actors Stephen, Bernard and Andrew, gave the audience a night to remember.
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Christie Whelan-Browne, Fox FM radio host Yvie Jones and Toby Truslove took on Alicia Gardiner, Colin Lane and Shane Crawford in a hilarious challenge hosted by Gold 104.3 FM radio host Christian O’Connell and judged by AFL umpire Razor Ray.
Singing stars Anthony Callea and Tim Campbell battled it out for the best 1980s rock performance, with a little help from some audience members.
The Telstra Celebrity Phone Room was also manned by fan favourites from The Block, Nine News, The Voice, Lego Masters, Married at First Sight, Postcards, and many more well-known faces.
An exciting addition to this year’s Telethon was the auction of a beautiful four-bedroom, two bathroom Simonds Home to be built in Satterley’s Botanical community in Mickleham. Simonds and Satterley generously donated $550,000 to the Telethon.
Maurizio Marcocci, Chairman, and Margaret Zita OAM, CEO of My Room, thanked everyone for their support.
In a joint statement they said: “On behalf of the My Room committee and families, we want to say we are overwhelmed by the support from Channel Nine as it continues to provide us with the platform to tell our story. We take this opportunity to also thank the talent who donated their time for this incredible cause as well as the amazing corporate sponsors, partners and volunteers, without whom this would not be possible.
“Most importantly, a big thank you to the public for their generosity, and to the bravery of the patient stories from Monash Hospital – it is for them that we continue to work towards a 100 per cent cure rate. This magnificent result will help us with the fight against childhood cancer.”
Nine Melbourne Managing Director, Matt Scriven, said: “Over the past three years, Nine’s annual My Room Telethon has raised more than $3.6 million. We are thrilled to be adding another $1.264 million to that total to help the young cancers sufferers.”
“I’d like to thank the viewers at home, our corporate sponsors for their incredible support, as well as the stars who volunteered their time in the Telstra Celebrity Phone Room. Together, we have raised vital funds to help in the fight against childhood cancer.”
Donations can still be made at www.myroom.com.au.
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