MOSCOW, October 1 (Itar-Tass) - More than 700 million rubles have been raised in a charity marathon All Together that was organized by Russia’s TV Channel One to help people who lost their homes and property in the recent devastating floods in the Far Eastern regions, a Channel One spokesman told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.
Channel One launched the charity marathon in the morning on September 29. Taking part in it were popular television hosts of TV Channel One, musicians, movie stars and show business people, there were live transmissions from the cities and towns that have been affected by the flood, as well as from several studios and sites in Moscow. A concert was held at Gorky Park within the framework of the charity marathon.
People willing to help could join this action by sending an SMS message to a short number displayed on TV screen. The cost of the message was from 40 to 50 rubles, depending on the mobile operator. Some people sent from 200 to 300 such messages. The record setter was a Baku resident, Emin, two sent 683 messages.
According to Channel One officials, the funds raised during the marathon will be transferred to people who were affected by unprecedented floods in the Far Eastern regions. After the money enter the account, Channel One will choose a company that will buy, deliver and assemble as many houses as it will be possible to buy to this sum. The process will be controlled by the channel.
Heavy rain in the Far East continued for almost two months since the beginning of August. As a result of the flood that hit the region, 100,000 people lost their homes and were evacuated to temporary accommodation centres - dormitories, hotels, clubs and cinemas.