Music for Charity

Deejays Radio 3FM get a record amount for refugees

Serious Request: Six days without food, without drinks. Six days only making radio. Three deejays from Radio 3FM, one of the biggest music channels in The Netherlands, are behind lock in the Glass House from Friday 19th till Wednesday 24th December. It's the fifth time before Christmas deejays are locked up to make money for a charity organisation. This year all the money goes to 'Het Rode Kruis', which has about 37 million refugees all over the world


By GERBEN SOLLEVELD
from Wageningen, The NETHERLANDS


There is a big square full with bars and restaurants. In the background stays a huge church full of spotlights. And before the church a white building tied up with banners and the front of it made of glass. The Glass House is in 2008 joining Breda, a big city in the south of The Netherlands. By a sort of lottery, deejays Giel Beelen, Coen Swijnenberg and Paul Rabbering are chosen this year to take centre stage for about six days.

Friday 19th December is the big day. At 9 AM the Minister of Development cooperation closes the door: "It's closed," says Koenders laughing. Serious Request 2008 has been started. If Giel, Coen and Paul can make 2,5 million euros than the government doubles its amount.

Serious Request

The deejays have to collect 2,5 million euros, through what ways can they make that amount? Serious Request exists since 2004. Several people at Radio 3FM have the idea to do something good for other people in the world and experience how it is to be locked up without any food or drinks. The challenge becomes bigger and bigger because every year the overall amount is higher than the year before. In 2007 the total amount was about 5,2 million euros.

Also, this year, you can give money through many ways. All music that is played during these days are requests, only played for money. You can send a message by phone, after a few minutes it is displayed on television. But other deejays from 3FM do different kind of jobs to earn money. DJ Gerard Ekdom shakes hands for 1 euro,- a piece and DJ Sander Lantinga is doing the most strange tough jobs only for money. The Glass House itself has a mailbox in which you can put money. Either it is day or it is night, all the time people are waiting to give their money in the box.

Day and night

Either it is 3 o'clock midnight or it is 12 in the afternoon, either the sun is shining or it is raining cats and dogs, the line with people is always long. Cheques, envelopes, a bag with coins or pieces of 200 euros, and cheques of a few ten thousands, everything is possible. Is it a heavy job for the tree deejays? 'I do not think so, with all the interest by day and night, we will overcome,"says Coen.

Paul is on air and interviews a woman who's standing next to the mailbox. She gives the amount of all kilos of her body she got lost. Paul: "Wow, that's great," and after seeing two pictures, one before and one after losing the weight: "Which picture is before and which one is after?" Just a little sarcasm, but everybody is laughing. It's all about enthusiasm and having fun.

Record amount

24th December, 7.45PM: Giel is almost going to end the six days: "We can take over every moment, then we have to exit the Glass House and go to the podium." At 8 PM it's definitely over and of course at the moment the overall amount will be announced. Giel, Coen and Paul, when they look back, these are the most beautiful moments. And than, loud applause, meanwhile they may exit the house. With many hugs and handshakes from the crowd they are walking toward the podium. Much noise fills the Grote Markt of Breda when the deejays enter the podium. The three guys are pushing a big red button. One by one the notes reveal: 3.137.937 euros. Completed with 2,5 million euros given by the government makes an overall amount of more than 5,5 million euros for Het Rode Kruis. All the money goes to 37 million refugees all over the world. Amazement is in everyone's eyes. The Netherlands is giving! Amazement of course by the deejays. "This is unlikely," screams Paul. "Thanks to The Netherlands, we made it," says Giel. "Unbelievable, thanks a lot," reacts Coen. More than five million euros are for refugees, it is a record amount.

Watch the final show?


(Published: 10.01.2009.)