AFTER a 15-month break radio host Lee Gooch has returned to the airwaves.
The Highland Radio DJ announced in January of last year that he was stepping away from his breakfast show to care for his son Noah who had just been diagnosed with leukaemia. But as of this morning Lee has returned to his ‘Naughty Alarm Clock’ programme.
The Gooch family captured the nation’s imagination when Lee announced his intention to push a bed from Dublin’s Crumlin Hospital to Donegal as a way of thanking all the charities who had helped Noah in his fight against illness. He embarked on the mission in August with an initial target of €25,000 set. But with the support of people all over Ireland, including celebrities such as Daniel O’Donnell, Rachael Blackmore, Padraig Harrington, Nathan Carter and Ray Houghton, the fundraiser exploded to over €250,000.
Among the charities and organisations to benefit were Letterkenny University Hospital, Crumlin Health Foundation, Donegal Down Syndrome Association, Children Disability Network Team, Hand in Hand, Aoibheann’s Pink Tie, Ronald McDonald House, Blood Bike Northwest and BUMBLEance.
“It was a good year in many respects,” Lee told the Donegal News ahead of his return to the studio.
“Obviously we had Noah’s diagnosis but the good to come from that was that the treatment was working.
Daniel O’Donnell helping the bed push along on its return to Letterkenny.
“Then we did the bed push and we raised €253,000 which is just an incredible amount of money. If someone had said you would end up raising that much you would have told them no way. But as well as the money, we raised awareness of the charities that helped us, including some of the smaller charities that are doing great work. So it was a good year in many ways.”
The Naughty Alarm Clock goes off at 6.30am from Monday to Friday meaning a 5.30am wake up call for Lee. He isn’t daunted by the return to the early morning commute.
“I don’t mind because in our house Noah wakes at 6am. I’ve kept my body clock on that schedule so it shouldn’t be too much of a shock to the system.” In his absence the morning slot has been occupied by Rory Farrell and Catherine Gaffney and their ‘Sunny Side Up’ programme.
“Hats off to Rory and Catherine who have done a brilliant job while I’ve been away. A huge thanks to them for looking after things in my absence,” Lee added.
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