LONDON, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair participated Monday in a 12-hour radio marathon to raise money for survivors of the Asian tsunami disaster.
Some 268 radio stations across Britain are collaborating on UK Radio Aid, with a combined audience of 20 million.
Blair put a guided tour of Downing Street up for auction during his interview with former Radio One host Chris Evans.
Talking about the tsunami tragedy, he said: "The terrible thing is that this was a disaster for which people were completely unprepared.
"One of my ministers was there a short time afterwards and said that nothing he had seen on television quite prepared him for the devastation."
Pop stars such Brian Adams and Mel C (Scary Spice) performed during the special, the first time commercial radio broadcasters have collaborated on such a project.
Each of the participating stations will donate one day's profits and organizers are asking listeners to stage fundraising events or donate one hour's pay from their salary.
By the halfway point the event had raised more than $1.6 million. All money will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee's tsunami appeal.
