A HOSPITAL radio marathon is continuing this morning with the aim of raising money and awareness of a special unit.

Southside Radio, which broadcasts daily from South Cleveland Hospital, Middlesbrough, is holding a special 2,000 minutes in the year 2000 broadcast, aimed at raising awareness of the hospital's holistic cancer care unit, with a little help from a few famous friends.

People who have been taking part in the marathon broadcast include The Northern Echo editor, Peter Barron, as well as William Hague, Nicholas Parsons, Esther Rantzen, Mike Neville and Paul Goff, from Century FM.

The team behind the effort says it is hoping Prime Minister Tony Blair is going to take part by telephone later today.

Mark Turnbull, from BBC Radio Cleveland, who is involved in the project, said: "I started in hospital radio here 20 years ago and mainly people see it as a start up point and a chance to do other things. I love anything to do with wireless.

"There is a high profile team of people trying to do good for others who are behind this."

Mr Turnbull said the amount raised so far ran into four figures, but he was hopeful the final sum could be in five figures.

The holistic cancer care unit is thought to be the first such unit in the country. It has been developed after a demand for complementary therapies, which would help keep patients on an even keel while they underwent radical medical treatments for various cancers.

Southside is broadcasting on 107.4FM across Teesside, all this week